Last Updated: November 16, 2023, 03:30 IST
PITTSBURGH: Pat Freiermuth is hoping his surprising sabbatical is lastly over.
The Pittsburgh Steelers activated Freiermuth off injured reserve on Wednesday, clearing the best way for him to return for Sunday’s go to to Cleveland.
Freiermuth hasn’t performed since injuring his proper hamstring in a loss to Houston on Oct. 1. He appeared prepared to return again earlier than Pittsburgh’s journey to Los Angeles on Oct. 22 earlier than aggravating the leg in follow, resulting in a month of standing on the sideline watching.
“That was frustrating, just feeling it in practice, a freak thing, I felt I was ready,” Freiermuth stated. “Definitely frustrating, but happy that I did what I had to do on IR to come back.”
The Steelers (6-3) have managed to remain within the AFC North race with out Freiermuth, although the offense has struggled at instances with out Freiermuth’s No. 88 discovering mismatches over the center.
Pittsburgh’s passing sport has principally been restricted to working outdoors the numbers to broad receivers George Pickens and Diontae Johnson and ranks twenty ninth within the league.
“(Freiermuth) is another (target) that defenses have to respect with the way he works in the middle and (does) different things for us to really help the whole offense out,” quarterback Kenny Pickett stated.
Freiermuth and Pickett have developed a powerful rapport since Pickett took over a month into the 2022 season. Freiermuth had eight catches for 53 yards within the first 4 video games, together with a pair of touchdowns, numbers that he hoped would improve because the weeks wore on.
Instead, Freiermuth spent greater than a month buried within the coach’s room making an attempt to assault what grew to become a tough rehab.
“It’s hard because (the injury is) one of those things you can’t really tape it up, can’t shoot it up with things to numb it,” he stated. “It’s hard because the littlest thing can set it off like it did last time.”
On gamedays Freiermuth discovered himself in sweats on the sideline, serving as equal elements cheerleader and mentor to rookie Darnell Washington and first-year participant Rodney Williams, who had been used nearly solely as blockers, with Connor Heyward assuming Freiermuth’s function on passing downs.
Heyward is productive to make sure however lacks Freiermuth’s 6-5 body, making him an inviting goal for Pickett, significantly within the purple zone.
Freiermuth made it a degree to reward Pickett and the offense for serving to the Steelers stay within the playoff combine after a 3-1 surge that’s included a collection of slim victories, the newest a 23-19 win over Green Bay final Sunday.
“I think Kenny has done a great job executing the offense, so has anyone else when I was out,” Freiermuth stated. “Just excited to see (what can happen).”
What most likely must occur in some unspecified time in the future over the subsequent two months if Pittsburgh desires to play into late January is discovering a solution to put up extra yards and factors. The Steelers have been outgained in every of their first 9 video games, discovering a solution to survive by relying closely on turnovers whereas additionally caring for the ball.
Coach Mike Tomlin stated his group wants Pickett and the league’s Twenty eighth-ranked offense to be extra productive. It’s one thing Pickett is striving for, inside purpose.
“You want to light up the stat sheet, but as long as we’re getting the wins, you know I’m OK with that, I sleep good,” Pickett stated. “So keep pushing, keep having that mindset, stay together as a group and I think everything else will be alright.”
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AP NFL protection: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
