CINCINNATI — George Pickens is the most chaotic player in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers have channeled much of Pickens’ play into productive games, but he hurt the team twice on Sunday when he was called for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

On the second one, it backed the Steelers up from the 13 yard line to the 28 yard line, and the drive would result in a blocked field goal.

Pickens was flagged for signaling a first down but using the ‘finger guns’ celebration, which the NFL considers a violent gesture. The referees told Pickens they ‘got the gesture wrong,’ but Pickens hopes he does not have a target on his back from the referees after recent games.

Meanwhile, quarterback Russell Wilson told Pickens that he does not need all those celebrations and can continue his prolific playmaking without hurting the team. Pickens said he knows that but feels some of the refs call ‘ticky-tack’ penalties at times on him.

“Yeah, that’s like something I already know about. I would just probably say, you know, the refs making different gestures, you know, to hurt the team. But, like I said, I never want to hurt the team. You never want to hurt the team,” Pickens said.

Head coach Mike Tomlin has defended Pickens multiple times. However, it seemed even Sunday was a spot where Tomlin decided he needed to call Pickens out publicly with some tough love.

“He’s just got to grow up, man. It’s an emotional game. These divisional games are big. He’s got a target on his back because he’s George. He understands that’s, but he’s gotta grow up,” Tomlin said.

Steelers offensive tackle and Pickens’ college teammate Broderick Jones approached Pickens after his second flag. The first flag, he dropped the ball on a Bengals defender and got hit for taunting, but after the second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, the Steelers calmed Pickens down.

Jones saw it as a personal mission.

“I just tell him because he’s such an emotional guy,” Jones said. “You just got to let him know, next play. You did that; it’s over with. Next play. Go make another play. Just be smart. Don’t do dumb shit. You just got to stay on him. He’s a great player. I just look at him. I try to get him right. Just as me, because I feel like we’re brothers. We’ve been together for so long. I feel like I know what makes him click and you know what doesn’t. I just try to always talk to him, stay in his area. We just continue to go from there.”

Pickens does not want to hurt the team and has always described himself as fiercely competitive. He had another strong game on Sunday, with a receiving touchdown created by an impressive play after the catch.

As the team’s top receiver, Pickens will continue to get fed in volume, but some of the negative plays have hurt the team and continue to baffle the Steelers.