Steelers vs. Bears: Tight end Zach Gentry earning expanded role in offense

Ben Roethlisberger accidentally called tight end Zach Gentry by the wrong name in a recent practice.

It was meant as a compliment.

Perhaps it was the size, or the way Gentry has improved as a blocker, but he evoked memories of another tall tight end who spent seven of his nine NFL seasons with the Steelers.

“Zach reminds me a lot of Matt Spaeth,” Roethlisberger said. “A guy that takes pride in his work — kind of an unsung hero.”

Spaeth was a valuable backup tight end who appeared in two Super Bowls with the Steelers, beginning his career with the organization in 2007 and ending it with them in 2015. He was a complementary piece behind Heath Miller, the most prolific pass-catching tight end in franchise history.

At 6-foot-8, 265 pounds, Gentry is one inch taller and five pounds lighter than Spaeth, but he is filling a similar role on the Steelers’ offense in his third NFL season. He began the season as a third-string blocking tight end on run downs but lately has seen his playing time increase over the past month

With veteran Eric Ebron sitting out because of a hamstring injury, Gentry played 45 snaps — the most in his NFL career — and set career highs with three receptions for 39 yards in the Steelers’ 15-10 victory against the Cleveland Browns last Sunday.

Two of those catches came on the go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that culminated with starting tight end Pat Freiermuth making a juggling catch in the end zone on fourth down.

Gentry’s catches on the drive each went for first downs, the latter resulting in a 24-yard gain.

“I didn’t know he was going to be out until a day before the game,” Gentry said about Ebron. “I was just excited about the opportunity. We missed him out there. But it was a big opportunity for us, and we got a lot of snaps. I think we made the most of it.”

With Ebron already declared out for the Steelers’ game Monday night against the Chicago Bears, Gentry could receive another dose of extended playing time.

“I’m really happy for him with the way he’s gotten involved in our offense, blocking and pass catching,” offensive coordinator Matt Canada said. “We think he’s a viable threat in the pass game and, obviously, we have a Hall of Fame quarterback who’s going to throw it to the guy that’s open. If they don’t cover him, he’s going to get the ball. But he’s done a very good job.”

The way Gentry has improved as a blocker is impressive considering that was the weakest part of his game when he entered the NFL. A converted quarterback at Michigan, Gentry experienced some growing pains in learning the position — in college and after the Steelers selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 draft.

“It was a long road, and it was in college, too,” Gentry said. “The first year I moved, I was getting hit a lot and I was not on the winning side of those. Since I’ve gotten up here, there was an even bigger learning curve. I think I adapted to it nicely. It’s taking the necessary steps week in and week out — getting lower, firing off the ball faster, being better with my hand placement.

“It’s something that was very difficult, but I think I’m headed in the right direction.”

The Steelers drafted Freiermuth in the second round this year to account for Vance McDonald’s retirement. Gentry began the season third on the depth chart again.

His playing time increased in recent weeks, mostly at the expense of Ebron. Gentry played 22 snaps against Denver, and he totaled 23 against Seattle. His heightened workload also coincided with JuJu Smith-Schuster’s departure with a season-ending shoulder injury. The Steelers deployed more two tight end sets against Cleveland, with Freiermuth and Gentry combining to play 99 snaps.

“I was always ready for an opportunity,” Gentry said. “At this stage of my career, physically I’m there, mentally I’m there. I was very prepared for this. Being able to watch the tight ends in the room the last two years helped get me in the right mental state and physical state to know what it was like to play 40-plus snaps.”

He did enough against the Browns to impress his quarterback and rekindle images of what Spaeth brought to the Steelers offense a decade ago.

“Maybe (he) doesn’t catch a lot of balls, a lot of touchdowns, doesn’t have big stats but will always put the team first,” Roethlisberger said. “Does the dirty work. I called him Matt in practice the other day, and he laughed at me. You watch Zach pull in and get his nose dirty in some of the blocks, and you reward him with some catches. He’s a team-first guy, and that’s fun to see.”