The Pittsburgh Steelers might be without tight end Pat Freiermuth for their huge Sunday night showdown against the Bengals. Freiermuth just hit the injury report, dealing with an illness, and he is officially listed as questionable. This is a massive blow if he can’t suit up, because the guy has been a cornerstone for their offense all season long.
Freiermuth’s Impact Can’t Be Overstated
Think about it, Freiermuth has started every single one of the Steelers’ eight games so far this season. He is a workhorse, racking up 25 catches for 235 yards. But here’s the real kicker: he leads the entire team with four receiving touchdowns. That’s right, four scores from a tight end! He is a go-to guy, especially when they get inside the 20. Losing that kind of production and reliability, especially against a division rival under the lights, is a gut punch.
Two Tight Ends, One Serious Problem
The Steelers’ offensive coordinator absolutely loves using two tight ends, and it shows in their snap counts. Freiermuth has played a hefty 65.5 percent of their offensive snaps this season. His counterpart, Darnell Washington, isn’t far behind at 64.7 percent. This isn’t just about volume either, it’s about crucial red zone execution. Seven of Aaron Rodgers’ 13 touchdown passes this season have gone to either Freiermuth or Washington. That’s over half of their passing touchdowns coming from their tight end duo. If Freiermuth can’t play, that two-tight end formation, a staple for them, suddenly loses its biggest scoring threat. Backup Robert Tonyan would likely see a significant bump in playing time, but can he step up and fill those big shoes immediately?
This Sunday night game against the Bengals is huge. The Steelers need all hands on deck, especially their top red zone weapon. Freiermuth’s status is definitely something to keep an eye on right up until kickoff.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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