Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth exploded for 111 yards and two TDs in Thursday night's loss to the Bengals. His first score came on a perfectly timed throw from QB Aaron Rodgers down the seam from 19 yards out. Freiermuth did well to absorb contact and hang on to the ball in the end zone. The second TD was a 68-yarder on a coverage bust by Cincinnati's secondary. Rodgers bought extra time, rolled to his left and found Freiermuth some 40 yards downfield. Freiermuth made the grab and rumbled into the end zone to give Pittsburgh a short-lived 31-30 lead with 2:21 left.

Steelers WR Calvin Austin (shoulder) is out for Thursday night's game vs. the Bengals. Scott Miller finished second among Pittsburgh WRs with a 48% route rate with Austin out last week. The Steelers went with a bunch of two and three-TE sets with Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, and Pat Freiermuth. Those guys are worth considering in one-game daily contests but shouldn't be in season-long fantasy lineups.

Steelers TE Jonnu Smith (hip) is questionable for Sunday morning’s game vs. the Vikings in Dublin. He got in limited practices on Thursday and Friday. Smith was a shaky TE1 even before this injury, but his absence would turn TE Pat Freiermuth into a potential low-end spot starter.

The Dolphins have traded TE Jonnu Smith, CB Jalen Ramsey, and a 2027 Round 7 pick to the Steelers in exchange for S Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 Round 5 pick.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Dolphins have "had trade discussions" with the Steelers about TE Jonnu Smith.

Steelers owner Art Rooney II said Tuesday that he expects his team to sign free agent QB Aaron Rodgers. “We keep hearing that he’s headed in our direction,” Rooney said at the NFL owners meetings, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I’d say we feel pretty good about it at this time.” Rooney added that he's willing to wait "a little longer" to get an answer from Rodgers. Rodgers initially met with the Steelers on March 21.

The Steelers are acquiring WR DK Metcalf from the Seahawks and giving him a big contract extension. NFL Network reports that Metcalf is getting a four-year, $132 million extension tacked onto the final year of his current deal. That will pay him $33 million per year after this season and lock him in with Pittsburgh through 2029. Seattle is getting a second-round pick (52nd overall) plus a late-round pick swap.

Steelers WR George Pickens (hamstring) is out for Saturday's game vs. the Ravens. He remained sidelined in practice all week, leaving him uncertain for Week 17. TE Pat Freiermuth is the only member of Pittsburgh's passing game that should be in fantasy lineups this week.

Steelers WR George Pickens (hamstring) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Eagles. He didn’t practice all week. Reportedly dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, Pickens is not a lock to make it back for Week 16. Pittsburgh’s WRs are hands-off in fantasy football against a stout Philadelphia secondary. TE Pat Freiermuth gets a boost with Pickens out.

Steelers WR George Pickens reportedly has a Grade 2 Hamstring strain and will likely miss next week's game against the Eagles. Pickens missed yesterday's game against the Browns as a game-time decision, but the injury appears to be more severe than describing this week.

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth caught one of Russell Wilson's two TD passes in Sunday's win over the Browns. Freiermuth caught three total passes for 48 yards among 3 targets.

Steelers WR George Pickens (hamstring) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Browns. Reports on his status for this one were positive this morning, but Pickens’ pregame workout must not have gone well. His absence leaves a huge hole in Pittsburgh’s passing game. Pickens has accounted for 24% of the team's targets, 24% of the receptions, 32% of the receiving yards, and 30% of the receiving TDs since QB Russell Wilson took over. WRs Calvin Austin, Van Jefferson, and Mike Williams could all pick up extra targets, along with TEs Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. But we’ll also likely see the Steelers lean even more on the run game. Russell Wilson is not a recommended QB1 play with Pickens out.

The Bengals defense can make everyone look like a star. Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth caught six of seven team-leading targets for 68 yards and a TD. The TE was heavily involved in the short passing game this week.

The forecast for tonight's Steelers-Browns game calls for temperatures just above freezing, 85% chance of precipitation, and winds of 15-20 mph with gusts of 25-30 mph. That's ugly. Expect an even run-heavier game plan from the Steelers than usual and for the Browns to run more than they typically do. And don't expect many points. This game has 36.5-point over/under. We'd avoid both QBs and kickers in the game and downgrade the WRs. See where all the Steelers and Browns sit in the updated Week 12 Rankings.

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth tied his season low with a 58% snap share in Sunday's win over the Ravens. That matched his low set back in Week 2, but it also matched his snap share for Week 10. Freiermuth's playing time has been falling recently, from a Week 6 peek of 87%, to 71%, then 65%, and the 58% of the past two weeks. He has now tied or trailed TE Darnell Washington in snaps for two straight games.

Steelers QB Russell Wilson is receiving the first-team reps at practice this week, putting him in line to start Sunday night's game vs. the Jets. Justin Fields has been the QB for the first six weeks and helped Pittsburgh to a 4-2 record, but Wilson will now get his shot.

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth (calf) is not listed on the final injury report for this weekend’s game vs. the Raiders. He was added to the injury report on Thursday but put in a full practice on Friday, so the calf shouldn’t be an issue. Freiermuth has finished as a top-15 fantasy TE in all five weeks so far.

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth was added to Thursday's injury report as limited with a calf. That typically means the player was injured in practice. Freiermuth's availability for this weekend's game vs. the Raiders is now in question. Check back tomorrow for an update on his status.

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth caught five of seven targets for 57 yards in Sunday's loss to the Colts, ranking second on the team in each of those categories. He also snagged Pittsburgh's only TD pass from 8 yards out late in the fourth quarter. It was Freiermuth's first TD since Week 3 of last season.

Steelers QB Russell Wilson (calf) is inactive for today’s opener vs. the Falcons. He was pushing to play, but the team will hold him out after he aggravated his calf injury in practice this week. QB Justin Fields gets the start for Pittsburgh and is a more exciting fantasy option than Wilson. But Fields dings the fantasy value of the Steelers’ skill-position players. See where they all sit in the Week 1 Rankings.