Veteran tight end Pat Freiermuth played a career-low 15 offensive snaps in the last game for the Pittsburgh Steelers during Week 4. There could be more low-snap count days on offense for Freiermuth going forward.
That’s what Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin indirectly implied while discussing the reason for why Freiermuth didn’t play very much against the Minnesota Vikings on September 28.
“We have a certain personality, especially when we play 4-3 teams. I haven’t been bashful about that. That’s why we drafted Darnell Washington. You can’t play 4-3 teams with 250-pound tight ends. You can’t,” Tomlin told reporters Tuesday. “The weight class is in combat sports for a reason. So, when the edge people are 300 pounds, you better have somebody out there that looks like that animal.
“That was our intention in Minnesota.”
Against the Vikings, Darnell Washington played a season-high 48 offensive snaps. Deploying Washington and a sixth offensive lineman in Spencer Anderson, the Steelers experienced their best day on the ground in 2025.
Meanwhile, Freiermuth only lined up for 15 offensive snaps. Anderson had more as an extra tackle with 19 snaps on offense.
It’s a strategy that’s received some pushback in Pittsburgh because Freiermuth has an average annual salary of $12 million. But Tuesday, Tomlin strongly suggested Washington and Anderson will continue to play together regularly over the next two games.
“Certainly, as we move into divisional play in the next couple weeks, and we’re playing two 4-3 teams, certainly you’re going to see more of that,” Tomlin added. “It’s unfair at times to ask guys like Pat Freiermuth and Connor [Heyward] to block 4-3 ends.
“That’s not realistic if you want to have a real good run game day.”
Pat Freiermuth Losing Playing Time to Darnell Washington?
The ironic thing about Tomlin’s comment about 250-pound tight ends is according to the Steelers official website, Washington stands at 264 pounds. Meanwhile, Freiermuth is only six pounds lighter at 258 pounds.
But anyone who has watched Washington and Freiermuth either in person or on television knows those two tight ends have a much bigger weight difference than six pounds. Washington might actually be more than 300 pounds.
NFL broadcasters routinely bring up Washington’s size and the inaccuracy of his weight listing during Steelers games.
It doesn’t sound like Tomlin has lost faith in Freiermuth. He’s a decent blocking tight end in his own right, and he’s a better pass-catching tight end than Washington.
But Freiermuth’s salary doesn’t mean he’s going to be Pittsburgh’s TE1 every week.
“Certainly last week, the matchup component had a lot to do with how we distribute snaps at that position,” Tomlin said of Freiermuth’s playing time. “When you’re looking at 4-3 units, as I mentioned, you better have some big people in that C and D-gap area.”
Spencer Anderson Sees Growing Role With Steelers
In addition to Washington’s increased role, Anderson received more playing time against the Vikings. His 19 offensive snaps during Week 4 were more than what he played in the first three games combined.
Tomlin stopped short of raving about Anderson’s play. But it’s rather clear the Steelers head coach sees Anderson as an asset for the team’s running attack.
“He’s a capable guy. He’s played some starting football for us in the past. He’s a versatile athlete,” Tomlin said. “I think he’s a former high school tight end at one point in his life. If you give him a minute, he’ll tell you about his AAU basketball resume.
“I don’t want to make more out of it than it was, to be quite honest with you. He’s the man that’s up in that regard.”
With Washington and Anderson playing significant roles, the Steelers ran for 131 rushing yards against the Vikings. Pittsburgh’s previous season high on the ground was 72 yards.
During Week 6, the Steelers will face a Cleveland Browns defense that is ranked second in run defense. The Browns are allowing a league-low three yards per carry.
