Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth Has Sprained Knee, Won’t Require Surgery

After leaving Sunday’s win over Cleveland and quickly being ruled out for the remainder of the contest, tight end Pat Freiermuth only suffered a sprained MCL, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said in his Monday press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. No surgery will be required for the injury.

This is obviously a good sign for the 6-foot-5 Penn State product, who will be able to work in the off-season without worrying about a healing knee. Pat Freiermuth was a reliable target for rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett this season, pulling in 63 receptions for 732 yards and two touchdowns.

Any knee injury is a scary sight, with it being well-documented how difficult the road back from a torn ligament can be. Luckily, Freiermuth will be able to focus on improving his craft rather than rehabbing in the months to come.

He’s been a weapon at his position like the Steelers haven’t seen since the days of Heath Miller. Guys like Jesse James, Eric Ebron, and Ladarius Green have come and gone, but Freiermuth’s size and talent have been promising for Pittsburgh.

Continuity among Pickett’s weapons will be important next fall, with the Steelers hoping to use the momentum they picked up late in this go-round to make strides and climb in the standings. Freiermuth is one of a handful of young pass-catchers that can make some noise with Pickett.