Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is excited to see what he and Jonnu Smith can do together this season.
New Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith missed practice on the first day of training camp. However, the team still foresees him having a large role in the offense, as does fellow tight end Pat Freiermuth.
"I think he brings a different skillset than I do, and I think we're gonna complement each other really well," Freiermuth said. "He's gonna complement the whole tight end room really well and I'm excited about the possibilities of 12 personnel. Arthur (Smith) sat down with me and showed me what he was thinking, so I'm very excited. I think it will be a big year for the both of us."
Both players are used to being featured pieces on offense. Freiermuth is coming off a career-high 65-catch and seven-touchdown season while Smith also recorded a career-high 88 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns with the Miami Dolphins in 2024.
Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith (9) runs a route against the Houston Texans in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec 15, 2024 in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
However, they are going to have to get used to sharing the workload. Freiermuth believes that will happen naturally given their different skillsets.
"I think that he's a very explosive guy with the ball in his hands. I think I'm a good choice route runner, seeing the field in zones," Freiermuth said. "I think when you combine those together, especially when we're both on the field, it's going to be a hell of a combination."
Only time will tell how the Steelers will deploy their new tight end duo on the field and if they will be kept happy with their usage. But both players a being paid to be difference makers, so Pittsburgh better find a way to do just that.
The Steelers made Freiermuth one of the highest-paid tight ends in the league last offseason with a four-year, $48.4 million contract extension and then gave Smith a one-year contract extension worth $12 million as part of their blockbuster deal with the Dolphins .
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Pat Freiermuth Sees Room for Jonnu Smith in Steelers Offense
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