PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said He feels good about tight end Pat Freiermuth ability to return for this Sunday’s game against the Browns in Cleveland.
Freiermuth has been out since the Steelers blowout loss to the Houston Texans in Week four after a hamstring injury.
He was aiming to return late last month against the Los Angeles Rams but his injury was tweaked and he’s been out since on Injured Reserve.
With Cleveland’s stout run defense, Freiermuth would give Pickett another big target.
The Steelers starting tight end has eight receptions for 53 yards with a pair of touchdowns this season.
There is also the possibility that safety Minkah Fitzpatrick could return.
“Minkah is battling to come back,” said Tomlin during his weekly news conference on Tuesday.
Fitzpatrick has been out since early in the Jacksonville game with a hamstring injury. Steelers have been working with Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee as the primary safeties.
A return of Fitzpatrick not only helps at that position, but may allow Neal to play a hybrid linebacker with the season-ending injuries to Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander.
Safety Keanu Neal, who started for Fitzpatrick left with a rib injury after an interception in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win against Green Bay.
Tomlin said they will be watching how he develops as the week progresses.
He also mentioned Kwon Alexander. He won’t be playing this week and the team will likely put him on year-ending IR sometime this week.