Freiermuth came back down to earth after posting his first career 100-yard performance against the Bengals in the previous game. Starting quarterback Kenny Pickett hurt his ankle in the first half against Arizona, and Freiermuth couldn't get on the same page with backup Mitch Trubisky. With Pickett expected to remain sidelined Thursday against New England, Freiermuth will likely have Trubisky throwing to him again in Week 14.
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Freiermuth came back down to earth after posting his first career 100-yard performance against the Bengals in the previous game. Starting quarterback Kenny Pickett hurt his ankle in the first half against Arizona, and Freiermuth couldn't get on the same page with backup Mitch Trubisky. With Pickett expected to remain sidelined Thursday against New England, Freiermuth will likely have Trubisky throwing to him again in Week 14.
George Pickens was the expected beneficiary of the Steelers' change in offensive coordinator, but Freiermuth was the most productive pass catcher for the team. He tallied the first 100-yard game of his career thanks to long catches of 29, 24 and 16 yards. It was a notable development for Freiermuth, as Pittsburgh has struggled to complete passes over the middle of the field this season. He had double-digit receiving yards in a game just once entering Sunday's contest.
Freiermuth now appears on track for Sunday's game against the Browns, but official word on his status may have to wait until 90 minutes before the game's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. The starting tight end hasn't played since Week 4 due to a hamstring issue, and his return could provide a notable boost for Pittsburgh's passing game. Though Freiermuth is averaging only 13.3 yards per game this season, he has scored twice across four appearances.
Freiermuth is on track to play after closing out the week with back-to-back full practices, but we won't know for sure until the Steelers activate him from injured reserve (or not). The deadline is 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, and quotes from the tight end dating back to last week suggest he expects to return from a four-game absence for Sunday's AFC North matchup. Connor Heyward and Darnell Washington split TE snaps for Pittsburgh the past four weeks, combining for 14 catches and 108 yards without scoring any touchdowns. A healthy Freiermuth should be a big upgrade for the passing game, even if he doesn't take on an every-down role his first week back.
Team
Pittsburgh Steelers
Birthdate
10/25/1998 (25)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'5", 258 lbs
Draft Info
2021: Rd 2; Pk 55 (PIT)
Birthplace
Newburyport, MA, USA
Position
TE
College
Penn State
Experience
3rd season
Career History
Pittsburgh Steelers
2021 - Present
(3 seasons)
Previous Game
10
Final
24
3
REC
29
YDS
0
TDS
2023 Season Stats
REC
REC YDS
REC TDS
YAC
AVG YDS
21
209
2
101
10
