Keeping quiet never has been easy for Eric Ebron, not in the best of times and certainly not in the worst.

The Pittsburgh Steelers tight end has taken veiled shots at former NFL employers in the past, and he has verbally jousted with critics on social media.

Ebron, though, has kept his mouth shut during a season in which personal success has been fleeting. His playing time, targets and catches are down drastically in his second season with the Steelers, but the eight-year veteran has refrained from the type of public outburst that previously defined him.

“It’s hard as (expletive),” Ebron said Monday, launching a certain four-letter word. “That’s not my life, but I want to be a professional.”

If Ebron is unhappy with his role on the Steelers — he trails rookie Pat Freiermuth in targets, receptions and snaps — he has kept it out of the spotlight. He hasn’t posted on his verified Twitter account since Sept. 12, the day of the season opener.

“No need for me to say anything,” Ebron said. “My reputation is I’ve always said something. For me, this time, I’m not going to say anything. I’m going to continue to let my tape and my coaches work for me.”

And Ebron said he isn’t about to lobby quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for more targets.

“Ben is a veteran,” he said. “You just hope that what you put on tape, people see. I’ve been putting a lot of good stuff on tape. You just hope they are recognizing it.”

So far, it’s been difficult to spot. Through six games, Ebron has caught seven passes on 13 targets for 47 yards and no touchdowns while playing less than 50% of all offensive snaps.

Last season, the first of a two-year, $12 million contract he signed with the Steelers in free agency, Ebron caught 56 passes for 558 yards and five scores. He had the second-most targets (91) and third-most receptions in his career.

“I’m an adult. I’ve got two kids. I’ve got a wife, people I lean on to talk to,” Ebron said. “It’s not only about my image anymore and how I portray myself. It’s the way I think about the people around me. My job is to come here and do what I’m asked to do. I’ve been doing that to the best of my ability, and I think it’s showed. Just doing my thing.”

Ebron’s involvement in the offense increased in the Steelers’ 23-20 victory against Seattle, which preceded the team’s bye week. Although he caught just two passes for 10 yards, he scored his third career rushing touchdown on a 1-yard run that provided a 14-0 lead for the Steelers in the second quarter. He also was on the field for 34 snaps, his second-highest total of the season.

Asked whether he’s been frustrated or dissatisfied with his role, Ebron said, “I can’t answer that one. You have to ask that to one of the coaches.”

Ebron’s availability could expand when the Steelers resume play Sunday against Cleveland, considering the offense will be without wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for the rest of the season because of his shoulder injury. Against Seattle, in the first game minus Smith-Schuster, the three tight ends on the Steelers roster combined for season highs in targets, catches and playing time.

While big plays have been lacking for Ebron, he has raved about the growth Freiermuth has made in his first half-dozen NFL games. The second-round pick from Penn State has caught a position-high 18 passes on 20 targets for 158 yards and a touchdown. He set career highs with seven receptions and 58 yards against Seattle.

Ebron referred to Freiermuth as “my third child.”

“I didn’t have the mental mindset Pat does, and he just turned 23 today,” he said. “I love that little dude.”

Freiermuth said Ebron has been a positive influence on his budding NFL career.

“E has been awesome,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot from him. Just how to take care of his body. He’s never really having those pains of a season. I’m learning that from him and, being the vet he is, how to get ready for games, how to get ready on a daily basis. He’s awesome.”

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