Pat Freiermuth’s Evolving Role Keeps Steelers’ Offense Afloat Amid Receiver Woes

1. Muuuuuuuuuth

The Pittsburgh Steelers have entered the 2025 season with a thin receiving corps, as several of their top wide receivers remain sidelined with injuries. In this environment, tight end Pat Freiermuth has increasingly been asked to function as a de‑facto wide receiver. Throughout the 2024 campaign, Freiermuth led the team in receptions and touchdown catches, and his ability to line up in the slot — a spot traditionally reserved for receivers — made him a valuable weapon. Early‑season reports from the Steelers’ official site and Pro Football Focus indicate that he continues to align in the slot on a majority of his snaps, allowing Pittsburgh to keep the passing game moving despite the absences on the outside.

2. No explosions

Pittsburgh’s defense has historically been prone to giving up big plays, a trend that persisted into 2024 when they allowed a high number of 20‑yard‑plus completions. Entering the 2025 season, the Steelers still rank near the top of the league in explosive plays surrendered, but they have maintained an ability to limit opponents’ scoring efficiency. According to the latest team‑released defensive metrics, the Steelers continue to allow fewer than two points per drive on average, placing them among the league’s best in that category even as they work to improve their three‑and‑out rate.

3. Driving questions

One of the more intriguing contradictions in Pittsburgh’s defensive profile is their low rate of forcing three‑and‑outs coupled with a strong record of preventing points. As of the opening weeks of the 2025 season, only a small fraction of opponent possessions against the Steelers fail to gain a first down, yet the defense remains effective at keeping scores low. This “bend‑but‑don’t‑break” approach has kept the Steelers among the top‑ten defenses in points allowed per drive, a trend that analysts attribute to aggressive tackling in the red zone and disciplined coverage in critical situations.

4. Already a shutdown?

Cornerback Daylen Everette, who earned his first NFL start in 2024, has quickly become a player opponents think twice before challenging. Early‑season tracking shows that when Everette is in coverage, opposing quarterbacks complete less than half of their passes aimed at his assigned receiver. Among cornerbacks with a similar snap count, only a handful force a lower completion percentage, and Everette’s rate remains the best among rookies, outperforming several higher‑drafted peers. Pro Football Focus also credits him with multiple forced incompletions, underscoring his growing impact in the Steelers’ secondary.

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