Steelers Offense Gets Boost with Pat Freiermuth Return

CLEVELAND — Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is in the active lineup and will play for his team against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Freiermuth was officially listed as questionable in the team’s injury report on Friday. He was reinstated from the injured reserve list on Saturday. Freiermuth has been out since he first suffered a right hamstring injury against the Houston Texans in Week 4. He was close to returning in time for the team’s Week 7 trip to Los Angeles, but suffered a setback late in the week of practice that landed him on the IR. This is the first week that he was eligible to return.

It’s not clear how much Freiermuth will play, if he will have a normal workload or if he will be 100%. Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson played about half of his usual snaps in his return from a multi-week hamstring injury earlier this season.

Connor Heyward and Darnell Washington have split time as the Steelers’ starting tight end in Freiermuth’s absence, with Heyward taking on most of the receiving role and Washington helping spark the Pittsburgh rushing attack with his blocking.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight ends Connor Heyward and Pat Freiermuth against the Buffalo Bills, Aug. 19, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Freiermuth has eight catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns in four games this season. The third-year Penn State product had 63 grabs for 732 yards and two scores last season. In his 36 career games, he has 131 catches for 1,282 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The Steelers have four tight ends active for the game, as Rodney Williams II is also dressed. He only joined the active roster from the practice squad after Freiermuth was injured, but has since become a key contributor on special teams. He will also provide depth in case Freiermuth is unable to play his regular workload or if he suffers an in-game setback.