Many of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ struggles this season have been the result of some head-scratching personnel decisions, particularly among the pass-catchers.
One blindsiding aspect of this season’s passing efforts is the continuously diminishing role of veteran tight end Pat Freiermuth. Last Sunday, in the loss to the Buffalo Bills, Freiermuth played just 17 snaps and didn’t receive a single target on the nine routes he ran. It was his lowest snap count since the win over Minnesota, where he played just 15 snaps and also didn’t receive a target.
It’s a bizarre outcome for a player who is second on the team in receiving yards and second in touchdown receptions despite being a forgotten asset in two full games.
Pat Freiermuth opens up about frustration with his shrinking role in Pittsburgh Steelers' offense
Freiermuth addressed his limited playing time against Buffalo to the media on Wednesday.
“Obviously, it’s frustrating,” Freiermuth said. “But at the end of the day, I have complete faith in Arthur [Smith], and we have a good relationship and understanding of what his thoughts were for the game plan. You know, I don’t lose too much sleep over it. Just got to be able to understand my role, and hopefully it changes moving forward. You know, I just got to be able to go out there and do what’s asked of me.”
Coming into the season, it was understandable that the addition of a potential volume receiver in Jonnu Smith and the emergence of Darnell Washington were bound to eat into Freiermuth’s playing time. Smith was a favorite of Arthur Smith in the past, and Washington quickly became a favorite of Aaron Rodgers.
But Smith has grown into a disappointment, and while Washington is deserving of his expanded role, Freiermuth is the proven commodity who has made the most of his opportunities this year.
Freiermuth hasn’t dropped a pass this season, and 12 of his 26 receptions have resulted in a first down. Meanwhile, 151 of his 298 yards have come after the catch. Nonetheless, he’s barely outperforming his worst statistical season: 2023, when he played in just 12 games and had Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky throwing the ball.
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So far this season, Freiermuth has logged 333 snaps on offense, just 47% of the plays Pittsburgh has run. Meanwhile, Washington has played 424, and Smith has played 402. The quality of production from these three pass catchers isn’t stacking up properly.
Freiermuth is being paid like a top-10 tight end. His annual salary is the ninth-highest at the position. Since he arrived as a second-round pick in 2021, he’s earned a reputation as a high-potential player and become a fan-favorite in the process. Yet, this season, the Steelers are ignoring him and are paying the price.
Freiemuth isn’t the best blocking tight end, but he’s better than Jonnu Smith in that regard. He may not be a proven elite pass-catcher, but he’s better than Washington there, too. How there are not more opportunities for a veteran of Freiermuth’s stature in this offense when the entire offense is struggling as much as it is is a mystery to Steelers fans everywhere.
Like Freiermuth said, hopefully that changes moving forward.