Friday Injury Whiplash: Metcalf Cleared, Freiermuth Questionable for Steelers

The Friday injury report is the NFL's version of a jump scare, and the Pittsburgh Steelers just gave fantasy managers a textbook case of late-week whiplash.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, tight end Pat Freiermuth was suddenly added to the injury report with a calf issue and is now questionable for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"Adam Schefter reported the dual updates, noting Freiermuth is questionable and Metcalf has no designation."

On the bright side, wide receiver DK Metcalf has officially kicked whatever illness he was dealing with. He was removed from the report entirely and carries no injury designation heading into the weekend.

A Friday calf addition is the sports equivalent of your car's check engine light turning on while you are already doing 75 on the highway. You have no idea if it is just a loose gas cap or if the entire transmission is about to drop onto the pavement.

The timing is brutal for a 3-2 Steelers team looking to build momentum after last week's 34-22 win over the Colts. Freiermuth has been a crucial safety blanket this season, hauling in 20 catches for 178 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Metcalf being fully cleared is a massive relief for an offense that desperately needs his perimeter threat. He has logged 19 receptions for 225 yards and a score so far this year, and he gets a juicy matchup against a reeling 1-4 Tampa Bay squad.

For the betting crowd, this completely scrambles the board. Metcalf's receiving props are back in play against a weak secondary, but Freiermuth's murky status means anyone holding a ticket on his target share is sweating out the weekend.

We will not know the real damage until Sunday morning inactives drop. Until then, keep a backup tight end on speed dial and expect Metcalf to see a heavy workload if Freiermuth is stuck watching from the sidelines.