PITTSBURGH — Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth said on Monday that he will play against the Los Angeles Rams and that his hamstring injury is fully healed. It’s healed to the point that Freiermuth said he would have played last week if the Steelers had a game. But he did practice on Monday and felt good doing it. His return goes along with Diontae Johnson and Anthony McFarland Jr., who are both set to come off injured reserve potentially.
“I feel good,” Freiermuth said. “I’m good to go this week; excited to get back out there and play.”
Freiermuth has not had the year he has wanted. In Week 1, he suffered a chest injury that knocked him back from a performance standpoint. He has only caught one touchdown, and the team has not utilized their tight ends much in the passing game this year. To say the least, more was expected out of Pat Freiermuth, who is coming off a tremendous season. But the group is being highlighted as blockers rather than as receivers.
Freiermuth suffered the injury in the second half of the Steelers loss to the Texans, and the team quickly ruled him out. The team initially expected him to be out 2-3 weeks, but Freiermuth has returned faster than that, and Pittsburgh will be happy to see him against the Rams.
The Steelers have four tight ends on the roster with Freiermuth, Rodney Williams, Connor Heyward, and Darnell Washington on the team. Pittsburgh should expect Freiermuth as one of the many reinforcements the offense will receive coming out of the bye week. However, the group needs to find more success moving forward as an all-around unit, and they hope the health of their personnel can help foster that improvement.