5 major changes the Steelers need to implement during their break

Steelers need to figure out their tight end room

Before the season began, one of the deepest rooms on paper for the Steelers was the tight end room. Pat Freirmuth had a pair of dynamic seasons and Connor Heyward was a surprise weapon on the offense. Add in Darnell Washington joining the team as a third-round pick and this seemed like a strength of this team.

The results, unfortunately, haven’t been there. Pat Freiermuth was barely being used in the passing game early in the season. He was kept in to block, which isn’t his strength, and the passing game as a whole has been poor. He is currently on injured reserve and the big contract he seemed locked in for is now in doubt.

Heyward has been less of a gadget player and more of a traditional undersized tight end. He hasn’t been bad in that role and has arguably remained in line with his statistical expectations. Washington, on the other hand, has not. He has been invisible in the passing game, and the hope of him contributing in the red zone now seems like a distant memory.

With the offense showing a bit more life against the Titans, the game plan has to involve getting the tight ends involved. Freirmuth will eventually get healthy and needs to be used as a safety valve. Heyward and Washington should also get more involved. This unit needs to recapture some of the hype that they had in the offseason.