While the Pittsburgh Steelers had a good offensive gameplan in Week 4 to get the win, there was a shocking twist to it: two well-paid starters sat on the bench and had almost no role in the offense. Tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith played 15 and 13 snaps respectively during that contest, and both have been underwhelming overall in the first four weeks. Now that the bye week is over, it will be interesting to see if the Steelers continue to roll with what worked, or if they try to get their co-starters back in the game.
At least Freiermuth seems to be taking his Week 4 benching well. Insider Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted how the tight end responded to the gameplan that seemed to not include him.
“That was part of the game plan and we ran the ball really well,” Freiermuth said. “We had a fantastic game, and we won the game, so I was super pumped for Darnell [Washington] and [Spencer Anderson].”
The Steelers believed that they could exploit a weakness in the Minnesota Vikings’ run defense, so they kept running jumbo sets with utility lineman Spencer Anderson and big tight end “Mount” Darnell Washington. That strategy worked very well, as the Steelers racked up 131 rushing yards on 29 total carries. It was their best day on the ground in 2025 so far, even though starting running back Jaylen Warren was out due to injury.
Everyone talks about how Washington could be a very effective offensive tackle if he wanted to ever change positions, and this game helped prove it. He helped create plenty of holes for Kenneth Gainwell as he aided with stopping opposing edge rushers from getting into the backfield like they’ve done in the first few games.
Freiermuth and Smith have never been known for their blocking abilities. They are both quality weapons in the passing game that can terrorize the middle of the field. Unfortunately for them, that is not the Steelers’ identity at all, and it could lead to a potential trade down the road. It’s just hard to get them going in a system that does not cater to their strengths consistently.
Steelers May Have To Keep Freiermuth And Smith On The Bench
Even with their abilities in the passing game, it’s hard to get them on the field at the same time. If the Steelers sub out Washington and Anderson for them, the opposing defense will know that it will likely be a pass play and adjust accordingly. Keeping Washington in leaves the Steelers’ plan for that particular play up for question, and that’s where Pittsburgh can go over the top for a big play.
On top of that, the Steelers are 6-0 when Washington plays at least 40 snaps ever since he was drafted. He may be the best blocking tight end in the NFL, partially thanks to his 6’7″ frame. If him being in the lineup means Pittsburgh has the advantage against opposing defenses, there is no reason not to make him a focal point of the offense.
On top of that, Washington has shown flashes of his receiving ability, so it’s not like the Steelers are giving up on the passing game by having him on the field. There have been a few plays where he has lined up wide to get a mismatch against a much smaller defensive back. Even if he does not have much in terms of receiving stats, that is still one man that nobody wants to cover one-on-one.
