Steelers inside the ropes: Pat Freiermuth gets the 1st looks from Justin Fields

Many anticipate a step up in production in 2024 from Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth. If the start of the second practice of training camp is any indication, Freiermuth is going to be getting plenty of looks from his quarterbacks.

Freiermuth was targeted on each of the first two 11-on-11 snaps of Friday’s practice at Saint Vincent. Each was incomplete — one was knocked down by safety DeShon Elliott, and the next was an errant, high throw from Justin Fields — but the early and often looks to Freiermuth support the notion that he will bounce back after an injury-affected, low-production third NFL season in 2023.

Freiermuth later in team drills caught passes from Fields and Kyle Allen.

Freiermuth was, perhaps, the most targeted receiver during the first practice of camp Thursday.

• The first two targets Friday were part of the return of seven shots, the 2-point conversion simulation that traditionally begins all Steelers practices. The first-team offense scored only once over the first four snaps, when, on the third play, Fields hit Van Jefferson as he sprinted along the back of the end zone toward the left pylon after beating Joey Porter Jr. But on the next play, Fields tried a similar throw to Jefferson in the same area of the end zone. This time, Beanie Bishop was in coverage, and the ball fell incomplete.

• Allen came on with the second-team offense and threw two scoring passes to the right side, the first of which was to veteran tight end MyCole Pruitt right at the goal line. That compelled coach Mike Tomlin to summon the starters back out for a tiebreaker to settle the first seven shots of 2024 camp. T.J. Watt rushed from his familiar left side and got a piece of a Fields pass intended for Calvin Austin III, leaving the defense victorious. “You know, we don’t want the third group to determine the winner of a drill,” Tomlin said after. “I think it’s appropriate to get the first group back out there. We’re talking about winning and losing and who’s eating good tonight at dinner. That’s why we’ll always send the first groups back out to determine tight contests.”

• Watt followed that play by blowing up the next snap, this time from closer to midfield in 11-on-11 play. Though, of course, no tackling was allowed, Watt easily would have sacked Fields under normal circumstances.

• Watt’s batted-down ball was one of at least four during team play Friday. DeMarvin Leal, Cameron Heyward and rookie Logan Lee had one each.

• Allen overall has had a strong two days. Not your typical No. 3 QB (he has 19 career starts), Allen has taken advantage of the extra reps in the absence of Russell Wilson. He had a completion streak to begin practice and looked crisp, at one point showing deft skill by scrambling to his left and throwing while on the run to Freiermuth about 10 yards downfield. On another, he showed accuracy in hooking up with Connor Heyward. Allen was the quarterback on the first big play by rookie Roman Wilson during this camp, a “touchdown” with Kalon Barnes in coverage. “I was really excited about Kyle Allen today,” Tomlin said.

• Fields had a slow start in seven shots and the next two team periods, but by the end of practice was on fire. He showed his speed and maneuverability on a read option look at one point. He later fired a perfect pass to Austin, who was in stride about 25 yards downfield and beating Minkah Fitzpatrick to the end zone.

• The Fields pass that drew the loudest cheers from the crowd was a completion of about 40 yards to George Pickens, who had beaten Porter and got past Donte Jackson as he caught the ball in the middle of the field.

• Austin, Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller, Quez Watkins and — later on, seemingly for fun — defensive backs Cameron Sutton and Fitzpatrick were among those part of the punt-return line. But what drew the biggest crowd reaction was when rookie fourth-string quarterback John Rhys Plumlee lost a ball in the sun, and it clanged off his helmet. Plumlee caught the next ball “punted” from the JUGS machine, earning an overly enthusiastic mock cheer that drew a playful wave from Plumlee.

• Also of quirky note from the special teams periods: New punter Cameron Johnston repped plenty of “fakes” in which he rolled out wide and threw passes. Reserve tight end Rodney Williams was a frequent target.

• Fullback Jack Colletto for a second consecutive day to open camp was given some snaps with the first-team offense.

• The defense showed a dime look at one point when the offense went with four wide receivers.

• At least twice, an 11-on-11 rep was “whistled dead” because of a false start by an offensive lineman. The penalty each time for the individual (guards Mason McCormick and James Daniels) was a one-snap banishment to the sidelines.