Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth returns to practice, could come off IR soon
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Pat Freiermuth returned to Pittsburgh Steelers practice on Wednesday, signaling a return to the active roster off of the injured reserve list is imminent for the team’s starting tight end.
Freiermuth has been on IR since Oct. 21 because of a hamstring injury suffered during a Week 4 game against the Houston Texans. During his weekly news conference Tuesday, coach Mike Tomlin said he “feel(s) good” about Freiermuth’s potential for returning to playing for Sunday’s game at the Cleveland Browns.
By rule, now that Freiermuth has returned to practice the Steelers have 21 days to add him to the 53-man roster or else he is out for the season. The Steelers currently have two open spots on their 53-man after moves this week that involved placing Kwon Alexander on injured reserve and waiving defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko.
Though Freiermuth has played only four games this season, he is tied for third on the team in touchdowns with two. He has eight catches for 53 yards in 2023 and 131 receptions and 11 touchdowns in 36 NFL games since being the Steelers’ second-round pick out of Penn State in 2021.
Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson said Freiermuth’s return will be a “big” help to the Steelers’ passing game.
“It puts even more pressure on the defense,” Johnson said Wednesday, “because you can’t double everybody or cover everybody. Pat works the middle (of the field) and (receiver George Pickens) works the outside. So you can’t stop it (all). If they stop us on the outside by (double-teaming) us, Pat’s going to tear up the middle.”
Fehoko on practice squad
After clearing waivers, Fehoko was added to the practice squad.
A veteran of 19 NFL regular-season games, Fehoko signed with the Steelers during free agency but did not make their initial 53-man roster. Fehoko spent the first two weeks of the regular season on the practice squad but was signed to the active roster Sept. 20.
A nose tackle by trade believed to be a run-stopping specialist, Fehoko did not appear in a game during his eight weeks on the 53-man roster. He was in uniform for one (Oct. 8 against the Baltimore Ravens) but did not play.
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