The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have trouble containing opposing tight ends. It's been a consistent problem over the last few years and has reared it's ugly head again in 2026.
In Week 6, the Buccaneers will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that has not one, but two quality tight ends that could exploit Tampa Bay's biggest defensive weakness.
If Jaylen Warren, DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson weren't enough to worry about, Todd Bowles must have a plan to contain both Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, or Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers will have a field day at Raymond James Stadium.
Steelers tight ends are a matchup nightmare for the Buccaneers
Opposing TE | Statline vs. Buccaneers |
|---|---|
Mike Gesicki (Bengals) | 5 receptions, 78 yards, TD |
Harold Fannin Jr. (Browns) | 5 receptions, 54 yards |
T.J. Hockenson (Vikings) | 2 receptions, 11 yards |
Tucker Kraft (Packers) | 6 receptions, 42 yards, TD |
Jake Ferguson (Cowboys) | 3 receptions, 19 yards |
The Buccaneers are allowing an average of four catches for 41 yards to opponent's starting tight ends through five weeks, and it's fair to mention that Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson would've had a more lucrative game if not for several drops.
Tampa Bay's defense has been relatively successful in limiting No. 1 wide receivers, as evidenced by holding Ja'Marr Chase to 12 yards and CeeDee Lamb to nine yards. But the more attention they devote to shutting down a player like DK Metcalf on Sunday, the more opportunities there will be for the tight ends to do damage in the passing game.
Freiermuth has the second-most targets on the Steelers, with 27 through five games. He's averaging approximately four catches for 34 yards per game, and he's especially making his presence felt in the red zone, where he already has four touchdowns on the season. He's coming off a five-catch, two-touchdown performance just last weekend, and Pittsburgh would be wise to feature him again in a favorable matchup.
Washington, meanwhile, is a huge mismatch at 6-foot-7 and nearly 300 pounds. He's the size of an offensive tackle but with steady hands that make him a dominant red zone threat. He's totaled 11 receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown on the season, averaging two catches for 26 yards per contest. Those numbers don't jump off the stat sheet, but in Week 3 against the Bengals, a team that has a similar weakness at inside linebacker, Washington recorded a season-high 67 yards. That might be a preview of the type of impact he could have against Tampa Bay.
Veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone has improved significantly after his miserable performances in the first two weeks of the season, but he's still a major liability heading into this matchup against such potent tight ends. His PFF pass coverage grade currently ranks 71st out of 72 inside linebackers, and a veteran like Aaron Rodgers will have his homework done on Tampa Bay's weak link and could pick on Anzalone all day long.
Even if the Buccaneers want to shake things up and give their safeties a shot matched up against Pittsburgh's tight ends, they'll be shorthanded in that department as star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is expected to miss this game with a fractured rib.
According to Sharp Football Analysis, the Steelers run 12 personell on 28% of their snaps -- twelfth-most in the NFL. They could very well run it at an even higher rate given the Buccaneers' issues covering tight ends.
If Tampa Bay wants to have any shot at pulling off the upset over Pittsburgh, they'll need to find a way to shut down Freiermuth and Washington, or it'll be a long day.
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