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<\/a><\/p>\nIt\u2019s far from the only one. Freiermuth has played half or fewer than half of the offensive snaps in each of the last six games, including Sunday. He has logged more than 50 percent only twice \u2013 Week 3 against New England and Week 7 against Cincinnati. By percentage, seven of his lowest nine snap counts of his now five-year career have come in 2025. The other two occurred during his rookie season. Compare that to Smith, who has played more than half the snaps in nine games this year. That\u2019s still more than Darnell Washington, who has only breached 50 percent seven times.<\/p>\n
In his last four games, Freiermuth has just seven total targets. He did not receive one against the Bills. To put that in perspective, here\u2019s a list of players around the NFL with more targets over that span: TE Jeremy Ruckert, WR Mason Tipton, WR Gabe Davis, WR Austin Trammel, TE Michael Mayer, and WR David Sills V. Seven of Freiermuth\u2019s teammates, including Washington and Smith, have received more targets.<\/p>\n
Washington emerging as the starting tight end is smart. It was an overdue move, and Pittsburgh has smartly course-corrected. That\u2019s not the issue. But Freiermuth playing behind Smith is confounding. Even knowing it\u2019s not Freiermuth\u2019s strength, Smith is not the better run blocker. Smith and Rodgers have zero chemistry<\/a> and haven\u2019t been on the same page all year. Freiermuth is younger with better hands and, on paper, a longer-term outlook.<\/p>\n Arthur Smith has a long history with Smith and was a driver in the Steelers trading for him in June. But he worked with Freiermuth all last season and the results are the results. Smith isn\u2019t getting the job done.<\/p>\n Mike Tomlin has touted Freiermuth\u2019s big game against Cincinnati when pressed as to why he hasn\u2019t been more involved. But that was the only loud game of the season. He has been held to no more than three receptions and 33 yards in all the other 11 contests.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of capable guys that we have a lot of confidence in,\u201d Tomlin said during Tuesday\u2019s press conference.<\/a> \u201cPat is certainly one of them. The ball didn\u2019t bounce his way a week ago, but certainly, he\u2019s a viable option for us and one that\u2019s strongly considered as we work this week.\u201d<\/p>\n