Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer expects George Pickens to be present for mandatory minicamp, even though the Pro Bowl receiver has stayed away from the team’s voluntary offseason work and OTAs at The Star. The minicamp is scheduled for June 16-18, and Schottenheimer said he spoke with Pickens on Wednesday and believes the receiver is handling his business.
Schottenheimer framed the situation as part of the normal business of the league, while also making clear that the Cowboys value Pickens’ presence. “I expect he’ll be here,” Schottenheimer said Thursday, adding that the team misses him but remains confident in his preparation.
What Pickens’ absence means before minicamp
Pickens has not taken part in the first two phases of the offseason program, which can matter for timing, conditioning, and chemistry. Schottenheimer said that the most noticeable loss is the “connection piece” that comes from being around teammates during voluntary work.
That connection can still be built later, but the missed reps mean Pickens could be limited when minicamp begins. Schottenheimer noted that the early offseason work is often more focused on strength, weight-room development, and general preparation than on football itself.
The Cowboys are also operating with Pickens under the $27.3 million franchise tag tender he signed earlier in the offseason. The team has said it will not negotiate a long-term deal with him, and if he does not report for training camp, he would be subject to a fine under the collective bargaining agreement.
Contract posture remains unchanged
Even with recent extensions for Atlanta’s Drake London and Green Bay’s Christian Watson, Dallas does not appear ready to alter its approach with Pickens. If the sides were to change course, they would have until July 15 to reach a long-term agreement before Pickens would need to play the season on the franchise tag.
Schottenheimer did not signal any shift in that stance, and his comments suggested the team is more focused on having Pickens present than on revisiting the contract situation publicly. He also said he is not sure whether the throwing sessions Pickens previously held with Dak Prescott away from the facility are still continuing.
Pickens’ production gives the Cowboys a strong reason to want him involved as soon as possible. In his first season with Dallas after arriving from the Pittsburgh Steelers, he caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, setting single-season career highs in all three categories.
Why the Cowboys still expect him to show
The team’s expectation is rooted partly in communication and partly in history. Schottenheimer said he believes Pickens is in a good place and pointed to the possibility of making up for missed offseason time before and during training camp.
That idea has precedent in Dallas, where players have sometimes missed parts of OTAs without it preventing them from being ready later. Micah Parsons, for example, missed OTAs during a contract dispute last year, then attended minicamp but did not practice because of low-back tightness.
Pickens is also scheduled to host a youth football camp this weekend, which adds another public commitment before minicamp. Even so, the Cowboys’ message has stayed consistent: they expect him in June, they believe he is preparing, and they want the chemistry that comes from having one of their top receivers back on the field with his teammates.
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