Steelers tight end
Steelers tight end
Continuing our 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers training camp grades. Today, a focus on what the tight ends have done so far. Keep in mind these grades consider all open camp practices and the team’s preseason games to date.
Robert Tonyan
One of the surprises of the summer, Tonyan really played well. And played his way onto Pittsburgh’s roster. Tonyan quickly became a security blanket for young quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar. Through the first half of camp, Tonyan had 11 receptions on 12 targets in team drills. His quarterbacks also found him in 7 on 7 drills with Allar floating a dime to Tonyan on a fade during the Saturday night practice.
That carried over into preseason play as Howard’s favorite target during his two-minute drill. Tonyan nearly found the end zone down the seam before being marked a half-yard short. Against the Jets, he caught two passes for 17 yards on just 15 total snaps and 10 routes run.
Tonyan is an inoffensive blocker. Worse than Washington, probably a smidge better than Freiermuth. His special teams value isn’t great and he’s the clear No. 3 on the team. His high-impact summer won’t translate into the fall. Still, Tonyan knows Rodgers, McCarthy, and is a solid No. 3.
Teammates also spoke highly of him for his professionalism and mentorship, even to guys like Freiermuth and Washington. An all-around plus addition to the Steelers.
Camp Grade: A-
Pat Freiermuth
Welcome back, Pat Freiermuth. After feeling absent a year ago, the new coaching staff wasted no time feeding him the ball throughout training camp. Per our stats through the first seven practices, Freiermuth ranked third on the team in targets (13) and tied-second in receptions (11). The high catch rate reflects his usual reliable self, and Aaron Rodgers peppered him with targets. Especially down the middle of the field against blitzes, repeatedly hitting him with quick-fire passes.
One of Rodgers’ best plays of camp came early, hitting Freiermuth back shoulder down the right seam away from LB Patrick Queen. Freiermuth twisted back for the ball and made the grab.
Freiermuth’s pass game presence has returned. His blocking has remained the same. An in-line player who gives effort but doesn’t generate much of a push and is too easily overpowered. Pittsburgh can, and likely will, focus on running away from him and standing him out to focus on his pass game chops.
Freiermuth is steady and consistent and I included him in the Honorable Mention list for our camp award. The takeaway is Freiermuth’s numbers should return close to the norm and mark a big bounce back from 2025’s waning production.
Camp Grade: B+
Riley Nowakowski
I opted to include Nowakowski with the tight ends instead of the running backs. Truthfully, he could’ve fit in either camp and I partially put him here because I ran out of time the day I wrote up the running backs so it was easier on me to put him with this group.
No matter how he’s labeled, Nowakowski is capable of doing both. He spent plenty of time at each position throughout camp. Early on, he was with the tight ends more often. Once the pads came on and Pittsburgh could start running the ball in earnest, Nowakowski saw frequent fullback snaps. The I-Form, and all of its variations, is back in Pittsburgh. Eat your heart out, 2003. One day, I charted Nowakowski with eight fullback snaps during practice.
His lead blocking is a work in progress and something he did little during his time at Indiana. Payton Wilson thumped him around early in camp but Nowakowski settled the score with a pancake of his own on Wilson later in camp. Nowakowski doesn’t lack any want-to and that’s half the battle. He’s aggressive and physical.
Although he didn’t have many chances to catch the ball in camp, he flashed soft and natural hands during drills. He showed the same in preseason action – with the exception of his first chance. A dropped touchdown on a naked boot by Drew Allar. Nowakowski atoned for it with a nifty one-handed snag to close out the Week One win over the Green Bay Packers and caught another short pass versus the New York Jets.
Nowakowski saw some work as a Y tight end. He’s bigger and stronger than Connor Heyward but still lacks ideal size for the position and runs the risk of getting knocked around on base blocks.
On special teams, he’s already shaping up as a four-phase special teamer. Per Pro Football Focus, he’s already logged 15 total snaps on four units: punt coverage/return and kick coverage/return. In camp on the punt team, he mixed and matched with Cole Holcomb on the line of scrimmage and right wing but has played the former during game action. His linebacker build (he was a linebacker at Wisconsin before changing roles) makes him the right body type to play up front.
Pittsburgh wasted no time putting plenty on Nowakowski’s plate. That can be tough on a rookie but versatility is the life of a fullback/H-Back. Nowakowski’s handled it well and won our “Mr. Versatile” award, narrowly edging out OL Doug Nester.
Nowakowski won’t put up big box score numbers and his offensive snaps will be tied to game plan and circumstance, but he’s showcasing to be a valuable rookie who will do a little bit of everything. He’ll catch plenty of passes off bootlegs and put up something like a 15 catch, 74 yard, two touchdown rookie season.
Camp Grade: B+
Darnell Washington
As Freiermuth gained, Washington lost. His play didn’t look any different than past years although his body type has. I’m a poor judge of weight loss or gain but it’s fair to say Washington has slimmed down at least a little.
He simply wasn’t active in the passing game during team drills. While Freiermuth had 11 receptions on 13 targets through seven sessions, Washington had just three targets. He caught them all, including one for a touchdown, but he felt like an afterthought for most of the summer.
Through two preseason games, Washington has one catch for 5 yards.
No one should’ve expected Washington to see his 2025 numbers spike, but it’s fair to wonder if he’ll reach his production of last year: 31 catches and 364 yards. Maybe there will be a greater emphasis in the red zone to offset any decrease in total involvement.
Pittsburgh also toyed around with using him in the backfield for a handful, you could count them on one hand, of snaps. Most interestingly, a Full House-ish backfield with two tight ends and the runner. Pittsburgh ran Iso plays with dual lead blockers, an interesting wrinkle.
Washington is a good player and blocker first, that’s his primary value to the team, and Pittsburgh has run plenty (though less) 12 personnel throughout the summer under Mike McCarthy. He just might be limited to checkdowns, the occassional bootleg in the flat, and low red zone work.
Camp Grade: C
Lance Mason
Claimed mid-camp to replace the waived JJ Galbreath, Mason had an intriguing college background with his success at Missouri State before transferring up to Wisconsin. He joined the Steelers for the night practice. Mason did nothing wrong but little to make an impact either. He’s yet to catch a pass in either exhibition game and splitting reps with the others makes for even more difficult sledding.
He had just 10 snaps against New York, three less than McRee but one more than Bell. A target one of the final plays of the Jets game hit off his hands. The coverage was tight but it’s a play a guy in Mason’s shoes must make.
Camp Grade: D+
Jaheim Bell
Bell made a little noise early with a few catches during the padless “ramp up” period across the first four practices. But even that was a mostly muted experience that totally dried up from there.
Bell’s best ability was his versatility, an H-Back type who occasionally aligned at fullback. Most often, that came during the ‘2 Spot’ period, the dual 11 on 11 walkthrough portion of practice. Pittsburgh’s offense runs the same play on each field so with Riley Nowakowski a fullback with the starters, Bell held the role with the backups.
Bell caught two passes for five yards against the Jets but dropped a late throw from Drew Allar that would’ve put Pittsburgh near the end zone. Perhaps he sticks on the practice squad to begin the year, but he did little to impress other than being available and durable to practice each day.
Camp Grade: D+
JJ Galbreath
Despite being a plus athlete with good college tape, Galbreath never made a jump in his second year with the team. Galbreath’s issues last year was being a strong enough at the point of attack as a blocker. His issue this year was – everything. Galbreath had a church mouse quiet stint with the team. Through seven practices, he didn’t have a target in team drills much less a reception.
Pittsburgh felt that, too. Galbreath was waived midway through camp for fellow TE Lance Mason. Galbreath was healthy. The Steelers just wanted an upgrade. Galbreath has since caught on with the Indianapolis Colts.
Camp Grade: D-
Previous Camp Grades