The Steelers and Giants combined for 400 yards of offense in the first half of their Week 8 “Monday Night Football” game, but neither team entered halftime with a touchdown.

Pittsburgh started quarterback Russell Wilson for the second straight season. Of the two options between him and Justin Fields, the ground substitute with his legs has the edge. Wilson’s strengths are said to be his passing and his ability to distribute the ball.

Wilson completed 12 passes to seven different pass catchers in the first half. When the dust settled, however, starting tight end Pat Freiermuth was missing from the box.

We look at the veteran TE’s slow start on Monday night.

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Is Pat Freiermuth playing?

Yes! Freiermuth is in the game. He ran several routes but was primarily used as a blocker. Freiermuth helped Jalen Warren to a big gain with a long third-down play in the second quarter. This doesn’t show up in the stats or fantasy football games, but Freiermuth is still out there.

It was a difficult first half for Freiermuth since yesterday was National Tight Ends Day. It felt like every tight end who played Sunday was force-fed the ball so the announcers could talk about it every five seconds, but that’s a thing of the past. Wilson didn’t look Freiermuth’s way at first, but found backup tight ends like Darnell Washington and MyCole Pruitt for a single reception each.

Is Pat Freiermuth injured?

Freiermuth played snaps as usual and finished the first half with a team-high 23 among TEs.

Counting TE snaps at halftime for the Steelers

Pat Freiermuth 23
Darnell Washington 14
Connor Heyward 8
My Cole Pruitt 5

Of 37 pieces

— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) October 29, 2024

Pat Freiermuth vs. Giants stats

• 2 goals
• 2 receptions
• 19 meters

Freiermuth scored two goals in the third quarter. He caught both of them, so he goes to the fourth and puts out his goose egg.