Pat Freiermuth, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ tight end, is expected to increase his production in 2024. If the second practice of training camp is any indication, Freiermuth will receive a lot of looks from his quarterbacks. Freiermuth was targeted during the first two 11-on-11 snaps of Friday’s practice at Saint Vincent. Each was incomplete — one was batted down by safety DeShon Elliott, and the next was an erroneous, high throw from Justin Fields — but Freiermuth’s early and frequent appearances reinforce the idea that he will rebound from an injury-plagued, low-production third NFL season in 2023. Later in team exercises, Freiermuth received passes from Fields and Kyle Allen.
Freiermuth was likely the most targeted receiver during camp’s opening practice on Thursday. • The initial two targets Friday was part of the return of seven shots, a 2-point conversion simulation that kicks off all Steelers sessions. The first-team offense scored only once in the first four snaps, on the third play, when Fields connected Van Jefferson as he streaked around the back of the end zone toward the left pylon after beating Joey Porter Jr. On the next play, Fields attempted a similar throw to Jefferson in the same area of the end zone. This time, Beanie Bishop was in coverage, and the pass went incomplete.
Allen stepped on for the second-team offense and delivered two touchdown passes to the right side, the first to veteran tight end MyCole Pruitt right at the goal line. That prompted coach Mike Tomlin to call the starters back out for a tiebreaker to determine the first seven shots of 2024 camp. T.J. Watt rushed from his familiar left side and intercepted a Fields throw intended for Calvin Austin III, resulting in a defensive victory. “You know, we don’t want the third group to determine the winner of a drill,” Tomlin stated following the event. “I believe it is appropriate to send the first group back out there. We’re chatting about winning and losing and who’s having a fantastic supper tonight. That is why.
