The Pittsburgh Steelers grabbed their second straight victory within the AFC North on Sunday as they took down the Cleveland Browns. The win brings Pittsburgh's record to 10-3 on the year, and the group is 3-1 within its division. Many fans were nervous coming into this game due to the challenging upcoming schedule for Pittsburgh, as well as the fact that Cleveland had won the first matchup of the season between the two teams.
Another challenge for the Steelers going into this game is that the offense was going to be without its best wide receiver in George Pickens. The third-year wideout popped up on the injury report on Friday with a hamstring injury, and he was ruled out ahead of the game on Sunday.
Tight end Pat Freiermuth stepped up in his place, scored, and then celebrated by punting the ball into the crowd. This move was pulled off by Pickens in Week 13, and Freiermuth had some jokes when asked about it after the game.
This was obviously a playful jab towards Pickens, as the wide receiver has been getting fined a pretty decent amount by the league. Pickens was fined twice for two separate unsportsmanlike conduct penalties during the Steelers Week 13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Typically players are fined for throwing the ball into the stands, but Pickens escaped without a fine for punting the ball after scoring.
Freiermuth may receive a fine for punting the ball into the stands, especially after making his playful comment to the media after the game. The tight end was the leading receiver for the Steelers in their victory, and he found the end zone for the second consecutive game.
Freiermuth is clearly starting to build some chemistry with Russell Wilson, and it has been on full display in recent weeks. Freiermuth has become a reliable target for Wilson as the tight end has caught three touchdowns from Wilson, and that number will continue to climb as the season goes along.
Steelers' Pat Freiermuth Is On Pace To Have His Best Season Yet
Freiermuth had a rough season in 2023. The year was riddled with injuries for the tight end, and when he was on the field, it seemed like he had trouble producing. It was by far the worst season of his career, and he has certainly bounced back in 2024. The tight end caught three passes for 48 yards and a touchdown during the win over the Bengals. His production on Sunday brings his season total to 44 receptions for 470 yards and five touchdowns, which easily surpasses his 2023 totals.
The tight end is currently having his most complete season. He hasn't struggled to stay on the field, he is finding ways to impact the season in both the running and passing game, and he is a strong leader on the offense. Freiermuth has been proving throughout the year that he is a top-end talent at the tight end position, and he is certainly deserving of the four-year contract extension that he signed ahead of the season.
