Cowboys WR George Pickens Faces Suspenseful Fate as Chiefs Incident Sparks League-Wide Speculation.QQ

George Pickens and the Dallas Cowboys secured their third straight win in Week 13, jumping to 6-5-1 on the 2025 NFL season after a 31-28 Thanksgiving win over Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Pickens continued his solid first season in Dallas, tallying six catches for 88 yards and a crucial two-point conversion.

With just over two minutes to play in the fourth quarter and the Cowboys up three, Dak Prescott hit Pickens on a slant route for a 13-yard gain, picking up the first down and ultimately sealing the win for Dallas. However, after Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson brought down the wideout, Pickens immediately removed his helmet as he lay on the turf.

While it’s unclear why Pickens removed his helmet, whether it was knocked loose or part of a celebration, the NFL has been cracking down on this type of action and will likely review the play. Under league rules, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty can be called for “the removal of a helmet by a player in the field of play or the end zone during a celebration or demonstration, or during a confrontation with a game official or another player.”

And while no unsportsmanlike penalty was called on Pickens after the play, the former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver may have a fine coming his way. In the NFL, players can be fined up to $14,491 for a first unsportsmanlike conduct offense, which can increase to $20,288 for a second violation.

This also would not be the first time Pickens has been fined for removing his helmet in 2025. After scoring a late touchdown in the Cowboys’ Week 2 overtime win over the New York Giants, Pickens took off his helmet before leaving the field and was later fined $14,491.

Pickens and the Cowboys will look to keep their winning streak and playoff hopes alive in Week 14, hitting the road to face the Detroit Lions on “Thursday Night Football.”