Injured Steelers TE Eric Ebron will not play vs. Browns

Eric Ebron began the week insisting he is content with his increasingly diminished role in the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. He ended it injured significantly enough that he won’t play in the Steelers’ next game.

Ebron did not practice Friday and will not play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers announced via their league-mandated injury report Friday. Ebron suffered a hamstring injury during Thursday’s practice and will miss a game because of injury for the first time since signing a two-year, $12 million contract with the Steelers in March 2020.

Ebron’s only missed game was the regular-season finale last season (also at Cleveland) when he was on the covid-19 list.

Ebron has played 47% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps this season, fewer than rookie second-round pick Pat Freiermuth at his position. Freiermuth and Zach Gentry are the only other tight ends on the active roster, but Kevin Rader is on the practice squad and could be a candidate to receive a call-up for Sunday’s game.

A Pine-Richland alumnus known as a strong blocker, Rader played in the Jan. 3 game at Cleveland and against the Browns again in a wild-card playoff loss at Heinz Field. Those are his only regular-season NFL games.

Receiver Chase Claypool will play Sunday even though he has been bothered by a groin injury in recent weeks. Two players recently activated off injured reserve after knee surgeries — running back Anthony McFarland and tackle Zach Banner — likewise were cleared to play against the Browns.

In brief remarks Friday, coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Banner was “ready to go,” and,McFarland was “an option” for the offense Sunday. Banner, though, is not expected to reclaim his starting job at right tackle, where Chuks Okorafor is expected to start again.

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