Just when it looks like the Pittsburgh Steelers are finally going to be healthy on the offensive side of the ball, another injury arises. As wide receiver Diontae Johnson was coming off injured reserve, out of the team’s bye week, tight end Pat Freiermuth was being placed on it.
Freiermuth was placed on IR with a nagging hamstring injury and will sidelined until Week 11 at the earliest. He has already been sidelined since Week 4, but since he wasn’t placed on IR until last week, Freiermuth had to miss at least four additional games.
Without him in the lineup, the Steelers will likely rely more on rookie third-round pick Darnell Washington. He has struggled, as most rookie tight ends do, earning a PFF grade of 49.3, which ranks 56th out of 69 qualified players. Connor Heyward has fared better, earning a grade of 61.7, which ranks 32nd.
But, he is only in his second season in the NFL. If the Steelers want to bring in a more experienced option to complement them while Freiermuth is sidelined, they have one week until the trade deadline to bring someone in.
Who could Pittsburgh target? Parker Abate of Steeler Nation put together a list of three prospective targets, starting with Hunter Henry of the New England Patriots. In the final year of a three-year contract, Henry is someone the 2-5 Patriots could look to unload ahead of the deadline.
Henry would provide the Steelers with a solid pass-catching option at tight end as long as Freiermuth is on the shelf. With 20 receptions for 210 yards and two touchdowns, he would be a solid stopgap option for this season.
If the Steelers want someone under contract beyond the 2023 campaign, Mo Alie-Cox of the Indianapolis Colts could pique their interest. He would provide Pittsburgh with another big body at the position, enabling them to lean into heavier offensive packages to get the running game on track.
Last, but not least, the Steelers could look to reunite with one of their former players; Zach Gentry. Gentry is currently on the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad, which makes him an ideal target.
Not only would be cost the Steelers nothing to acquire, as he can just be signed off the practice squad, but some gamesmanship between rivals could be had as well. Spending the entire season to this point on the practice squad, Gentry would likely have some insight he could bring back to Pittsburgh when the AFC North rivals face off in Weeks 12 and 16.
The learning curve for Gentry would virtually be nonexistent as well. He could likely step into the lineup and help right away as he was part of final cuts this year after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Steelers.
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