Steelers use a tight end “1A and 1B” plan as training camp opens July 28

Pittsburgh’s training camp preparation begins with a familiar decision at the tight end position, where the Steelers are describing Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington as a complementary pair they can rotate as “1A and 1B.” The framing is part of a broader pre-camp position preview series released by the team as the Steelers prepare to report to training camp at Saint Vincent College on July 28.

The Steelers’ approach matters because tight end play rarely fits a single schematic box. On most teams, the position has to function as a receiver in the middle of the field, a reliable option in the red zone, and a part of the blocking group that protects the pocket and sustains run concepts. By treating Freiermuth and Washington as two primary options rather than one clear starter, Pittsburgh indicates they intend to use both roles and personnel groupings throughout camp and the preseason.

Freiermuth and Washington are being positioned as a tandem, with the team’s preview emphasizing continuity between them rather than a strict hierarchy. That kind of “two-player” plan can show up in practice as planned-on ramps, alternating routes and assignments, and match-up based utilization in individual and team periods.

The “1A and 1B” description also sets expectations for camp evaluation. Even when two players are grouped as primary, coaches typically sort out the details that determine who sees more snaps in specific situations. For a tight end group, that can include effectiveness at finding space in zone coverage, consistency as a hands-and-route runner, and reliability on block calls that require timing with the offensive line.

For fans, the key point is that the Steelers are not treating the tight end room as a one-size-fits-all unit. They are casting it as a controlled competition where two established names, Freiermuth and Washington, are expected to share the spotlight as training camp progresses toward games at the end of the summer.

As the Steelers report to Saint Vincent College on July 28, the immediate watch items are how the team splits work between the two tight ends, how frequently they appear together in personnel packages, and whether the “complement” theme shows up in practice execution across both passing and blocking phases.