If nothing else, Zach Gentry stands out at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp.
“He’s 6-(foot)-12,” Eric Ebron deadpanned. “And not a lot of people are 6-12.”
Gentry is not quite 6-12, er, 7 feet tall. But at 6-8, the tight end is tied with tackle Zach Banner as the tallest offensive player on the Steelers’ 90-man camp roster.
“He’s starting to understand his body is abnormal compared to other tight ends and other people,” said Ebron, a fellow Steelers tight end. “He has to be able to use that to his advantage. He’s doing a really good job understanding that this year.”
Gentry needs to stand tall during this camp if he is to be guaranteed a 53-man roster spot when the regular season begins. A fifth-round pick in 2019 who was always thought of as something of a high-ceiling, long-term project, Gentry is fighting to be the No. 3 or, perhaps, No. 4 tight end behind assured Nos. 1 and 1A Ebron and Pat Freiermuth.
Gentry has played just 69 offensive snaps over the past two regular seasons, though he missed the final six games of 2020 because of a knee injury. He has appeared in six games and has been targeted with one pass, a 4-yard reception.
A converted quarterback at the University of Michigan, Gentry’s days as a “redshirt” with a roster spot sewed up are probably gone. He’s got to start to produce now if he’s going to beat out renowned blocker Kevin Rader as the No. 3 tight end.
Ebron said he’s seen Gentry’s game grow over the two years the former has been with the Steelers.
“I just feel like (Gentry’s) attitude and the way he’s approaching everything is a lot better,” Ebron said. “And that’s how it starts.”
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