The bye week can sometimes come at the absolute worst time, or it can come at the absolute best time.
In the case of the Steelers' offense, their bye week skews towards the latter. Three major skill-position players are set to make their returns when the Steelers visit Los Angeles for a showdown with the Rams Sunday, and those are sure to help Kenny Pickett and a struggling offense.
But, one more major move is potentially on the horizon for this same Sunday.
While he might not be the most impactful return of this bunch, Dan Moore's is certainly the most notable given Broderick Jones' success in his first career start last week against the Ravens.
Moore confirmed he returned to Monday's practice and worked with the first-team offense at left tackle after missing the Ravens game with an MCL sprain.
Moore said he "pretty much" got a full workload Monday, but the reps were "somewhat limited" as he worked through every period. He also acknowledged he doesn't know if this move back to the first team will be a permanent one.
"This business is unexpected. You really don't know what happens," Moore said after Monday's practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "Like I've said, I just show up and do what I'm asked."
Moore's return was anticipated, but the idea of Jones, the 14th-overall pick in this past draft, assuming starting duties over him seemed nearly forgone. Jones allowed zero sacks and one quarterback pressure while often being left on an island against Jadeveon Clowney in the Ravens matchup.
Here is a worthwhile breakdown of Jones' first start from the NFL Network's Brian Baldinger:
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPSvideos) October 16, 2023
Mike Tomlin will in all likelihood clarify this move in his press conference Tuesday, but Moore can only say and do so much with respect to his own playing time. The Steelers have resisted playing rookies prior to the bye week -- see Joey Porter Jr. in the secondary -- and if Jones was going to be in line to start Sunday at the Rams, he in all likelihood would have seized the reps over Moore Monday.
"Control what I can control. That's it," Moore said.
Now, as for the aforementioned skill players ...
"I’ll be good to go this week," Pat Freiermuth said. "Excited to go back out there. I feel good."
Those three sentences from Freiermuth breathe a sigh of relief into an offense that needs as much relief it can get. Freiermuth, Diontae Johnson, and Anthony McFarland Jr. returned to practice Monday as the Steelers reconvened for the first time this week to begin preparing for Sunday. Meanwhile, James Daniels returned to practice last week, but he has not publicly confirmed his status for Sunday.
"It was awesome to be able to get the extra week," Freiermuth later added. "I didn’t have to worry about rushing back for a game. I probably would have been able to play if we were to play (Sunday). Having that extra time, you know how hamstrings are, they can lag all year, so to be able to be 100 percent is awesome."
Johnson gave confirmation last week that he would be on track to play Sunday, and the Steelers announced that McFarland and he officially returned to practice Monday. Those three returning -- Johnson and Freiermuth, especially -- are going to provide a massive boost for the 30th-ranked total offense and the 30th-ranked scoring offense entering Week 7.
"It’s going to be awesome having all our people back," Freiermuth said. "Hopefully we get back to the form we had in camp. We're all looking forward to it. It was a good little rest. Hopefully we get all our guys back, especially James (Daniels) and Ant Mac, ready to roll."
Johnson commanded six targets at the time of his injury Week 1 against the 49ers and was on rack to pace the team in receiving that week. Freiermuth has been reliable in connecting with Pickett on eight of 13 targets, and his two touchdowns are tied with George Pickens for the team lead.
Allen Robinson has commanded the No. 2 receiver duties but will step aside to a smaller role once Johnson returns.
"He's a prolific weapon," Robinson said of Johnson. "He's a guy that's caught over 4,000 yards in this league which is not an easy feat at all. He brings his play making ability and teams have to go for that. ... In this league whenever you get play makers back, I think that's big for everybody across the board. Being able to have those guys back, it'll be very good for us."
McFarland is not going to take over much of the work from Najee Harris or Jaylen Warren, but his presence will add another wrinkle to what this offense can do from the receiving standpoint. McFarland had a solid training camp and played a role in Week 1 before being relatively limited against the Browns. He will also have a more prominent role within the kick-return game alongside Calvin Austin given more fumbling issues for Gunner Olszewski.
McFarland said he landed on injured reserve off of a "freak thing" that happened in the preseason, and that he tried to play on it up until showing up on the injury report for Week 3.
"Just help those guys out," McFarland said. "They're already doing their thing. They're doing what they're supposed to do. I'm just coming in to help those guys out. ... (Freiermuth and Johnson) bring a great vibe to the offense. I'm still trying to make my way and do the right things."
