George Pickens provided plenty of anticipation for Sunday's ballyhooed AFC North matchup.
Unfortunately, Pickens won't be taking the field, as the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver is officially inactive for his team's Week 14 game against the Cleveland Browns.
Pickens didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday due to his hamstring injury but returned to practice Friday in a limited capacity.
He also spoke to the media on Friday, doing his best to pay no respect to Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II just a few weeks after the two ended Cleveland's upset win over Pittsburgh skirmishing in the snow.
"I don't even know who that is," Pickens said of Newsome.
The Browns bested the Steelers, 24-19, in Week 12, with Pickens giving Cleveland no credit for the win, deeming it not "a good team at all."
When asked Friday how Cleveland stacked up, the receiver replied, "I just go by the record."
But Pickens and Newsome's drama will be confined to pregame talk this time around.
For the year, Pickens has picked up 850 receiving yards on 55 receptions with three touchdowns. In his absence, Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III will be looked on to step it up in the WR corps, and it could be a sizable opportunity for midseason trade acquisition Mike Williams to contribute. More than likely, it will mean more targets for tight end Pat Freiermuth and running back Najee Harris.
The Steelers (9-3) kick off against the visiting Browns (3-9) at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.
