At the outset of the week, the Pittsburgh Steelers thought they were getting tight end Pat Freiermuth back for their game Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
On Saturday, they made a decision that will keep him out of the lineup for at least another four games.
The Steelers placed Freiermuth, who aggravated a hamstring injury in practice Thursday, on injured reserve. The announcement coincided with the Steelers activating wide receiver Diontae Johnson from injured reserve and releasing wide receiver Gunner Olszewski.
Freiermuth will be eligible to return for the Nov. 19 game against Cleveland. He sustained injury in the Steelers’ game at Houston on Oct. 1.
Although he had just eight catches for 53 yards on the season, Freiermuth also had two of the team’s five touchdowns. Without Freiermuth, the Steelers will continue to use the trio of rookie Darnell Washington, second-year tight end/fullback Connor Heyward and first-year player Rodney Williams.
Johnson resumed practicing with the Steelers on Monday, so his return from injured reserve was anticipated. One day after a national report surfaced that the Steelers would cut ties with Olszewski, the move was made official.
