Steelers Coach Explains Pat Freiermuth’s Lack Of Playing Time

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t been using tight end Pat Freiermuth all that much this season, and that was the case against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4.

The Steelers are coming off a 24-21 win over the Vikings in Dublin, and in the game, Freiermuth wasn’t targeted. He has just seven receptions on 10 targets for 65 yards, and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin explained his lack of playing time.

Freiermuth has also played just 112 snaps this season, and just 28% of offensive snaps against the Vikings. But Tomlin said that was due to Minnesota’s defense and nothing else.

“We have a certain personality, particularly when we play 4-3 teams,” Tomlin said told reporters on Tuesday. “I haven’t been bashful about that. That’s why we drafted Darnell Washington. You can’t play 4-3 teams with 250-pound tight ends. You can’t. There’s weight classes in combat sports for a reason. And so when the edge people are 300 pounds, you better have somebody out there that looks like that animal.

“So that was our intention in Minnesota,” the Steelers coach added. “And so certainly as we move into divisional play in the next couple of weeks and we’re playing two 4-3 teams, chances are you’re gonna see more of that. It is unfair at times to ask guys like Pat Freiermuth and Connor Heyward to block 4-3 ends. That’s not real realistic if you want to have a real good run-game day.”

As Tomlin noted, the Steelers believed it was unfair of Freiermuth to be solely blocking, so he didn’t get much playing time. But whether or not the tight end will see more playing time or targets in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns is to be seen.

Freiermuth is in the first year of his four-year, $48.4 million extension with the Steelers.

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