One of the more alarming takeaways from the offensive debacle the Pittsburgh Steelers experienced in Week 13 versus the Buffalo Bills was tight end Pat Freiermuth’s playing time. Once again, Freiermuth took a back seat to fellow tight ends Darnell Washington and Jonnu Smith.
Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora argued Wednesday morning it’s the latest proof the team views Freiermuth as a $12.1 million backup.
“After the Bills’ field goal to make it 26-7, the Steelers’ offense took the field for three final snaps. Meaningless and uneventful. Two runs by rookie RB Kaleb Johnson, one incompletion by QB Mason Rudolph. Everyone simply ran out the clock,” wrote Kozora.
“Pittsburgh knew it, too. The Steelers pulled key starters and played as many backups as they could. Those removed? QB Aaron Rodgers, WR D.K. Metcalf, RB Jaylen Warren, RB Kenneth Gainwell, TE Darnell Washington, and OG Isaac Seumalo….
“The tight end who took the field? Pat Freiermuth.”
Washington led all Steelers tight ends with 34 offensive snaps against Buffalo. Smith was second at the position with 23 snaps.
Freiermuth played 17 offensive snaps, three of which came on the meaningless drive Kozora referenced.
Steelers See TE Pat Freiermuth as a Backup
It’s been repeated a lot since Sunday, but it’s important to note again that the Steelers only had 43 offensive snaps in Week 13. So, Freiermuth actually played 40% of the time on offense versus the Bills.
Still, that’s not the playing time a starting tight end receives. Before Sunday, even Freiermuth, who has seen his snaps greatly slashed this season, hadn’t lined up for 40% or fewer of Pittsburgh’s offensive snaps since Week 6.
Freiermuth’s role is quickly becoming one of the more frustration aspects, especially on offense, of the Steelers’ 2025 season. Last year, Freiermuth posted 65 catches, 653 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. It was his second 650-yard campaign in three years. In the season where he didn’t reach that total, he missed five games.
Before 2025, Freiermuth appeared to have Pro Bowl potential. That’s largely why the Steelers signed the tight end to a four-year, $48.4 million extension.
Other recent high offensive draft picks in Pittsburgh — Najee Harris, George Pickens and Kenny Pickett — didn’t get second contracts from the Steelers. Freiermuth did.
But this fall, Freiermuth hasn’t had much of a role even in Arthur Smith’s tight end-centric offense.
What’s Freiermuth’s Future With Steelers?
The Steelers have a unique cap situation. They have a very expensive defense and a cheap quarterback not on a rookie deal.
Still, it’s worth noting Freiermuth possesses the sixth-highest cap hit among Steelers players this season. On offense, he’s second only to Aaron Rodgers and trails the quarterback by only a little more than $1 million.
Yet, Freiermuth is playing a career-low 48% of the team’s offensive snaps. Before this season, he had never been under 62% (counting the games in which he dressed).
Washington and Smith have both played more.
All three tight ends are signed through at least the 2026 season. So, it’s worth wondering what Freiermuth’s future could be in Pittsburgh.
It’s unlikely that his Pro Bowl potential suddenly disappeared this season. But he’s not getting the opportunities to reach that potential.
If the Steelers didn’t believe Freiermuth possessed that kind of ceiling, then they shouldn’t have signed him to a $48.4 million extension.
Despite the lack of playing time, Freiermuth is still second on the Steelers with 298 receiving yards in 2025. The offense needs a lot more production than that from their No. 2 pass-catcher. But Freiermuth requires more snaps if he’s going to be the guy to provide Rodgers another quality option in the passing attack.
That doesn’t appear to be likely to happen, though, given how the Steelers clearly view Freiermuth as their TE3.
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