PITTSBURGH -- Pat Freiermuth played just 15 snaps against the Minnesota Vikings and has just seven receptions for 65 yards over the first four games of the season. In the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense with multiple tight ends playing more than 50 percent of the time, that is a disappointing stat line.

Freiermuth signed a four-year extension with the team last season, but with the addition of Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington’s continued emergence, it has thrown Freiermuth to the side.

So, why is not playing more?

A lot of it comes down to matchups and Mike Tomlin says that Freiermuth’s blocking aptitude does not fit the team’s personality in some matchups when they face 300 pound edge rushers on 4-3 defenses.

“We have a certain personality, particularly when we play 4-3 teams,”

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