Steelers Injury Updates: Freiermuth Doubtful; Harvin, Daniels Could Return

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is unlikely to play in the team’s Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday.

Tomlin called Freiermuth “very doubtful” to play in the game, while declining to completely rule him out. The tight end suffered a hamstring injury in the team’s Week 4 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Rookie Darnell Washington is in line to make his first start with the Steelers if Freiermuth is unable to play, with Connor Heyward and practice squad player Rodney Williams II providing further depth. 

The Steelers could also add to that group. They worked out former Michigan and Arizona Cardinals tackle Joel Honingford on Tuesday. The team could also look to bring back Zach Gentry, who is on the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad. They would have to sign Gentry to the 53-man roster and keep him there for four weeks if they made that move.

Freiermuth is expected to be hampered by the injury for two to three weeks, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. That means the Steelers will have to make a decision about whether or not to put him on the injured reserve list. If they made that move, he would have to miss at least four games. But they would have to make a roster spot in another way to replace him if they don’t put Freiermuth on IR.

The Steelers have four other players in injury limbo this week. Quarterback Kenny Pickett is expected to practice on Wednesday and see how things go from there after suffering a knee bruise on Sunday.

Defensive end DeMarvin Leal is in the concussion protocol after taking a hit to the head late on Sunday. His status remains up in the air.

Punter Pressley Harvin III (right hamstring) and guard James Daniels (groin) are expected to try to participate in practice this week. They both missed all of last week’s practices and the game against the Texans after being injured in Week 3.

Left tackle Dan Moore Jr. has been ruled out with a right knee sprain.

STEELERS INJURY REPORT