The Steelers were joyous in their celebration of their 19-13 win over the Titans Sunday at Heinz Field, but that was somewhat overshadowed by their concern for rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth, as well.
Freiermuth took a helmet-to-helmet hit from cornerback Kristian Fulton with six minutes remaining in the third quarter and was taken straight to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion. He did not return and was placed in concussion protocol, meaning he had suffered a concussion, which would be his second in the past month.
He also suffered a concussion on a touchdown catch in the fourth quarter of the team's loss at Cincinnati Nov. 28. He made it through concussion protocol and returned to play the next week against the Chargers, but suffering two in such a short period of time could make that difficult this week as the Steelers (7-6-1) prepare to travel to Kansas City next Sunday to face the Chiefs (10-4).
But the Steelers are more concerned with Freiermuth's overall health after he spent a considerable amount of time down after making a 5-yard catch against the Titans.
"I talked to him immediately after the game. We’re locker mates. I checked in with him a couple of times last night, making sure he was all right," said fellow tight end Zach Gentry on Monday. "First thing I did this morning was text him. And I saw him at the facility. He’s in good spirits. He’s doing alright. That was the first thing I was wondering on the sidelines, too. I wanted an update on him. We’re good buddies. I’m glad he’s doing all right."
Freiermuth, a second-round draft pick out of Penn State, had four catches for 37 yards against the Titans and now has 49 receptions for 422 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns this season.
After he exited the game, Gentry, a third-year pro, was the Steelers' lone healthy tight end. Third-stringer Kevin Rader, elevated from the practice squad when Eric Ebron was lost for the season to a knee injury, was inactive for the game because of a hip injury.
That meant fullback Derek Watt had to serve as the Steelers' second tight end.
If Freiermuth can't make it through concussion protocol in time for the game against the Chiefs, Gentry would step into a more prominent role. Largely, he's been used as a blocking tight end this season. But he did have a 17-yard catch on a tight end screen the play after Freiermuth left the game.
"That was a little screen we had been practicing for a couple of weeks. I had no idea we were going to dial it up when that happened," Gentry said. "It was a really good play call by Coach (Matt) Canada and really good blocking downfield, so we were able to make it work."
Rader also could be called upon, while the Steelers also have Jace Sternberger on their practice squad. Sternberger, a third-round pick of the Packers in 2019, has also been with the Seahawks and Washington this season after being waived by Green Bay at the end of training camp this year following a two-game suspension for violation of the league's substance abuse policy.
"Anybody is going to be able to step in and contribute. Kevin has been a guy who has been waiting his turn for a long time," Gentry said of Rader, who has been on the team's practice squad since 2019 after being released by the Packers, as well. "He’s been consistent and physical. He knows the offense and knows what to do. He’s been in this for a while. I think he’ll perform very well. Jace has been here for a little bit. He’s a great tight end. If he gets his opportunity, he’ll do great things with it. I don’t worry at all about having very much falloff bringing those guys up. I think they’ll do just fine."
But the main concern remains the health of Freiermuth.
Gentry and Freiermuth have become close this season, and with both under 25 years old, are growing into the position in the NFL together.
"It was scary, especially with how close Pat and I am," Gentry said of Freiermuth's injury. "I just wanted to know that he was alright. When I knew he was able to get up and leave the field and I knew he was alright, we just have to focus on the rest of the game. I knew it was going to be a haul the rest of the game. I was going to get a little tired, but I just had to play well for him and the rest of the team."
