Veteran Steelers Tight End Out with Minor Injury

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Zach Gentry is dealing with a foot or ankle injury, and was seen in a walking boot on his left foot at practice on Saturday, but it is not expected to be a long-term issue, head coach Mike Tomlin said.

Gentry played in 19 snaps in the team’s preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday, according to PFF. There was no obvious injury during play, and Tomlin said after the game that the team escaped serious injury.

With two weeks until the team’s regular season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10, the team has plenty of time to get Gentry back into playing shape.

Gentry, 26, has seen a steadily-increasing role in the Steelers offense over his four seasons in black and gold after being selected as a fifth-round pick out of Michigan in 2019.

He spent 2022 as the second tight end on the team’s depth chart behind starter Pat Freiermuth and played an important blocking role as the team transitioned to a run-heavy offense in the second half of the season.

The Steelers added third-round pick Darnell Washington in the 2023 NFL Draft, bringing on another top-flight blocker while also adding more athleticism to the passing game.

Washington is expected to eventually overtake Gentry on the depth chart, though that has not happened this preseason.

A free agent for the first time this offseason, Gentry signed a one-year, $1.4 million deal to stay in Pittsburgh.

Nick Farabaugh provided reporting from Pittsburgh.