The Pittsburgh Steelers took a tough 26â7 loss at home to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. With their record now at 6â6, the Steelers are searching for answers, especially on offense, after putting up just seven pointsâtheir lowest total of the entire season.
Thereâs no question the Steelersâ passing offense has been a weak spot this season. They rank 24th in the league, averaging just 187.8 passing yards per game (ESPN). If Pittsburgh wants to make a late-season run at the playoffs, this is a number they probably need to improve very quickly.
Given the issues in the passing game, it makes sense to examine a position the Steelers have poured a lot of money into but havenât seen much return from. That position: tight end.
GettyDarnell Washington has been the Steelers most productive tight end recently.
Dive into the Numbers
Yes, tight end Darnell Washington has actually been producing more than expected in the passing game. He led the Steelers with 45 receiving yards in Sundayâs loss to Buffalo and has gotten at least 43 receiving yards in three of his last five games. His contract has a relatively small cap hit, set at $1,468,977 for the 2025 season (Spotrac).
Notably, there are two other players in the tight end room that have a much bigger cap hit for the Steelers, but their production has been very limited in Pittsburgh’s passing attack. Those players are Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith.
For the 2025 season, Pat Freiermuth’s contract has a cap hit of $12,893,820 for the Steelers (Spotrac). Freiermuth, who was expected to be a bigger part of the teamâs passing offense, has not surpassed more than 33 receiving yards in his last six games. The 27-year-old tight end has 298 receiving yards on the season.
Jonnu Smith, who the Steelers acquired from the Miami Dolphins before the season, has a contract with a 2025 cap hit of $5,127,500 for the Steelers (Spotrac). Smith has not surpassed more than 28 receiving yards in a game this season. The 30-year-old tight end has 190 receiving yards on the season.
Between those two players, the Steelers are taking a cap hit of over $18 million this season. Considering their very limited involvement in the passing game, that figure has to have Steelers nation scratching their heads.
GettySteelers TE Jonnu Smith.
Steelers Offense Takes Accountability
In the loss to Buffalo, the Steelersâ passing attack was virtually nonexistent. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers went 10/21 for 117 passing yards. Aside from Washingtonâs team-leading 45 receiving yards, D.K. Metcalf was the second-most productive pass catcher with just three receptions for 32 yards.
Wide receiver Calvin Austin III said, “This team has a standard that when it takes the field, fans are expecting to see a certain thing, and it’s our duty to provide that. It’s as simple as that. As fans, they come here to cheer us on, but we aren’t giving them anything to cheer about,” wrote Brooke Pryor of ESPN.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers said, “I believe in Mike Tomlin. That’s why I came here. Players need to take accountability, myself included, and I will, and I will continue to. I got to play better, but there’s 11 starters on offense, 11 on defense plus with the personnel groupings that we run,” wrote Pryor.
The Steelers will look to bounce back on Sunday, December 7th, when they travel to Baltimore to play the Ravens. With both teams at 6-6, the winner will be in first place in the AFC North standings.
GettyHead Coach Mike Tomlin and DE T.J. Watt.
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