The Dallas Cowboys kicked off Phase 2 of their voluntary offseason workouts on Tuesday, but one notable name was missing from the field: Pro Bowl wide receiver George Pickens. As first reported by Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Pickens opted to skip the team's voluntary sessions, a move that wasn't entirely unexpected given his current contract situation.

Pickens signed his franchise tag on April 29, locking him into a one-year deal with the Cowboys. While he had been working out with quarterback Dak Prescott last month, he didn't report for the voluntary individual work with the training staff, and now he's sitting out the start of this phase as well. This pattern has become common for players playing under the franchise tag who are seeking long-term contract extensions. The Cowboys' mandatory workouts don't begin until June 16, so Pickens is under no contractual obligation to show up just yet.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones, however, has a different perspective. Last week, Jones joined Adam Schein of Mad Dog Sports Radio and expressed his hope that Pickens would follow the example set by Prescott back in 2020, when the quarterback played under the franchise tag while still attending all team activities. "Haven't been told that. Certainly, that's what we expect," Jones said. "Anytime a player signs a contract and the expectations, as we hold for all of our players, is when you sign up and you're under contract and you're expected to do what your teammates are doing. And certainly, you know, go back to Dak, I know he's working with Dak and those type of things, but at the end of the day, you know, we will see how this thing plays out."

Clearly, Pickens and the Cowboys' front office aren't on the same page right now. But since these workouts are voluntary, Pickens's absence isn't a major concern—yet. If he decides to skip the team's mandatory workouts in June, though, the situation in Dallas could shift from cooperative to contentious in a hurry. For now, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Pickens and the Cowboys can find common ground before the season heats up.