The Steelers’ offense will be down another starter for the time being. Tight end Pat Freiermuth is expected to miss two to three weeks with a hamstring injury, reports Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
The team’s passing attack is already without wideout Diontae Johnson, who is on injured reserve due to his own hamstring ailment. Losing Freiermuth for an overlapping stretch will leave the Steelers without their top pass-catcher at the TE spot and thus hinder a passing attack which has failed to live up to expectations so far in 2023.
The 2021 second-rounder recorded at least 60 catches in each of his first two seasons in Pittsburgh, proving his value as a consistent complimentary option on offense. This year, however, Freiermuth has posted just eight grabs for 53 yards (though two of them have resulted in touchdowns). In spite of the underwhelming totals, his absence will be felt on a unit which does not feature a similarly established option at the position.
Pittsburgh has 2022 sixth-rounder Connor Heyward – who has made 14 catches to date in his career – and third-round rookie Darnell Washington available as replacements. The latter, who established himself as an athletic standout in a deep tight end class at the Combine and proved to be a highly effective blocker at Georgia, has received only one target to date. That total will likely increase in the near future with Freiermuth unavailable.
The status of quarterback Kenny Pickett is uncertain at this point after he exited the Steelers’ Week 4 loss with a knee injury. That ailment is not serious, though, meaning he could suit up for Week 5. Regardless of who is under center for Pittsburgh – a team which has the bye coming up in Week 6 – this Sunday, the offense’s skill-position corps will be shorthanded. With the Steelers’ offense coming under fire after a 2-2 start, it will be interesting to see how the unit fares at less than full strength.
Steelers consistently draft for need rather than BPA and they get burned when they’re wrong (Bush, Najee, etc). Now they have no depth and have to spend to fill holes (oline/DLine)
Ok now I really can’t tell. Are they saying muth or boo?
Tank for Caleb
I’m so glad the players coach threw his players under the bus on his explanation of the 4th and one call. Blaming it on injuries to Moore and Freiermuth. Very poor leadership on Tomlin’s part. Either take responsibility yourself, or share it with your OC.
I was a Tomlin supporter until very recently but clearly, he’s lost. He’s brought in “yes” assistant coaches while pushing proven innovators like Arians and Haley out the door. He sticks with the worst offensive coordinator in the league. But most notably, his failure to prepare his team week after week is disturbing
I was also someone who applauded the selection of Pickett. I was wrong. If anything, the guy has regressed and has shown no signs he is capable to lead an NFL team
Freiermuth surely isn’t much as a tight end
But let’s be honest. This is a bottom tier team. Despite the signings and draft, they have a horrible offensive line, a porous defensive line where marginal running backs gain big chunks on the ground and a poor secondary
Even Watt and Highsmith looked unenthusiastic this past Sunday
Incredibly dark period in Pittsburgh sports and you have to hope the Penguins can be a winner, at least
The Steelers have a complacent owner, a fraud coach and many, many average players. After watching this franchise for going on 55 years now, this is about as low as the Brister era