After Overtime Loss, Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Demands More Targets for Pickens

After a heartbreaking 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has demanded that star wide receiver George Pickens see the ball more. Appearing on the radio programme 105.3 The Fan, Jones said directly that the ball needs to come Pickens' way more often.

In that game, Pickens was on the field for just 42 of a possible 74 snaps, one of the lowest snap shares of his professional career. The only comparable game was last season's regular-season finale, a meaningless game whose result changed nothing. Pickens was targeted just four times all game, and in Jones' view that is nowhere near enough.

Jones said, 'He needs the ball coming his way more.' He added, 'And there's your good case, you say what can you do differently than we did out there the other day? We get the ball in that direction more and we press that.'

The Cowboys' firm game plan was to run the ball, but it brought little success. The team ran the ball 39 times for just 93 yards in the whole game. The owner himself admitted that the lack of success on the ground surprised him.

Jones credited Arizona's defensive line. 'The Arizona defensive line is to be commended. They did not have that reputation to have that kind of game they had against us. So that's one of the frustrating things about that game,' he said.

Pickens' frustration after the game was plain to see. As soon as the Cardinals hit the game-winning field goal in overtime, he sprinted down the tunnel to the Cowboys' locker room.

This was not the first time Pickens has seen few targets. In the Week 7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, he was targeted only six times. Through eight games this season, Pickens has 39 catches for 533 yards and two touchdowns.

The contrast with last season is stark. Last year, Pickens produced 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. That form has yet to appear this season.

His salary makes the frustration sharper. Playing under the franchise tag, Pickens is making $27.289 million this season. Jones had hoped that Pickens and Lamb would once again form one of the league's top wide receiver duos and serve as the engine of a playoff team.

The reality is different. After eight games, the Cowboys stand at 3-5. With Pickens set to become a free agent at the end of the year, fans have begun wondering whether Jones could consider trading him for future assets.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer and quarterback Dak Prescott faced the media after the loss. Jones wants the Cowboys, and Pickens, to get back on track on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern Time against the reeling Indianapolis Colts.