The Pittsburgh Steelers have scored five offensive touchdowns in 2023 through five games, two of which were scored by tight end Pat Freiermuth. The 55th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has showcased an impressive receiver skill set since catching 60 balls from Ben Roethlisberger for 497 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021 as a rookie. Unfortunately for the Penn State product, injuries have derailed each of his seasons in the NFL so far. In 2023, a hamstring injury put him on the shelf before the team's Week 5 win over the Baltimore Ravens. One reporter hopes to see him much more involved in the offensive game plan when he is cleared to return to the field.
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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth celebrates a first down against the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.
Steelers beat writer Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette joined Cristopher Carter on Wednesday's edition of the North Shore Drive Podcast to break down some of their thoughts on where the team stands at their Week 6 bye. There has been plenty of frustration on offense this season for the team, but they hope to get a boost when Diontae Johnson returns to the lineup after the bye.
While discussing the potential impact of bringing back the 2021 Pro Bowler, Fittipaldo voiced his concerns about the team's usage of Freiermuth in the first four weeks of the season before he was knocked out. He seriously questioned why Pittsburgh hasn't been getting him the ball when he expected the tight end to be one of Kenny Pickett's top targets along with Johnson and George Pickens.
"I don't know what's going on with him," he said. "Before the injury, 53 receiving yards in four games. I know he's got two touchdowns, but that's unacceptable."
The hamstring injury and a chest injury suffered in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers have been factors that might be slowing him down on the field, but his involvement in the offensive game plan has been confusing. Freiermuth has been targeted less than five times in all four games this season, and other than the 41 yards he had against the Las Vegas Raiders, has been held to less than 10 yards in each contest.
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Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (#88) stands on the field at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
It's been a very uncharacteristic start for the 24-year-old. In his rookie year in 2021, he posted just one game below 10 yards in 16 games. In 2023, he only has one game where he was targeted where he finished with less than 10 yards. The Steelers are going to have to find a way to fix this slow start if they want to turn around their offensive fortunes in 2023.
Steelers Need To Find A Way To Make Freiermuth "A Factor"
The Steelers will have to decide on Freiermuth's future in the organization in the 2024 offseason. He is under contract for the 2024 season, but will be considered for an extension sooner rather than later. In the not-too-distant future, General Manager Omar Khan and the front office will have to determine what kind of money they deem is right for the young talent.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Pat Freiermuth celebrates his touchdown catch against the Buffalo Bills during the 2023 preseason.
Fittipaldo said that in order for them to figure out what they truly have in him and what kind of a deal he'll need to stay in Pittsburgh, he needs to be more involved.
"He's one of your top three targets and you're going to want to pay him at the end of the season," he said. "So, you have to get that guy the football and make him a bigger factor in these games."
Freiermuth was a dependable third-down option for Pickett in 2022, but hasn't been as prominent in 2023. This could be a big way to get him involved again when he comes back from his hamstring ailment. The other area where the team should look to get him and rookie tight end Darnell Washington more involved is in the red zone. Pickett has had a tough time in that area of the field in 2023, so why not give him the biggest-bodied pass-catchers on the team in those situations when the windows get smaller?
No matter how they do it, Pittsburgh needs to find a way to unleash Freiermuth, both to figure out what his next contract looks like and to unlock the potential in the offense.
Do you agree with Fittipaldo that Freiermuth needs to be more involved? Do you think he deserves a big second contract? Comment below!
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