Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth says he will play this week vs. Rams

It sounds like the Steelers will have tight end Pat Freiermuth available for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Per Pro Football Talk, the Pittsburgh star said he expects to play this weekend.

Freiermuth missed Pittsburgh’s Week 5 victory over the Ravens because of a hamstring injury. However, he indicated that had the Steelers played on Sunday, he would have played. The team had a bye week.

In four games this season, Freiermuth has hauled in eight receptions on 13 targets. He has 53 yards and two touchdowns for the Steelers. Pittsburgh currently owns a 3-2 record.

Freiermuth is in his third season with the Steelers out of Penn State. He’s proven to be a weapon in the passing game during his time with the team. The tight end has 1,282 yards and 11 touchdowns on 131 catches.

Along with Freiermuth, the Steelers also received some good news on wide receiver Diontae Johnson and running back Anthony McFarland Jr.

Diontae Johnson, Anthony McFarland Jr. return to Steelers practice

Both Johnson and McFarland returned to the practice field this week. However, both players remain on injured reserve currently.

Pittsburgh released the news on Monday regarding the status of Johnson and McFarland.

Johnson suffered a hamstring injury in Pittsburgh’s season-opener against San Francisco. He had three catches for 48 yards prior to his departure in the third quarter.

McFarland is battling a knee injury, which has kept him sidelined. He also played in the Week 1 game against the 49ers, hauling in two receptions for 11 yards. The running back did not get any carries.

Per the team’s website, the Steelers have a 21-day window to activate Johnson and McFarland or they’ll remain on the injured reserve list for the remainder of the 2023 NFL season.

Diontae Johnson ready to return to action

There was never any doubt, at least in Johnson’s mind, that he’d be back on the field for the Steelers at some point this season. The five-year veteran is itching to catch passes again.

“(Heck) yeah, I’m coming back,” said Johnson. “I’ve been working my behind off these last three, four weeks. I feel completely great and healthy. I am ready for Monday when we come back and get back to work.”

Johnson says he feels like he’s at full strength after going through the recovery process.

“I feel 100 percent right now,” said Johnson. “The trainers, I appreciate them for pushing me through that whole process. Keeping my head level. Not coming in here down and stuff like that. I always had a positive attitude when I came here, and I was ready to work.

“Whatever they threw at me, I was going to do what I had to do to get it done.”

Johnson earned his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2021. He put up career numbers that season, hauling in 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns. But his production dipped last year as Pittsburgh’s offense sputtered.

The receiver ended the year without a touchdown catch despite pulling down 86 passes for 882 yards.