Steelers’ Zach Gentry has ‘significant’ injury, but JuJu Smith-Schuster, Joe Haden OK
Backup tight end Zach Gentry suffered a “significant” knee injury during Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers victory. But two of the Steelers’ most recognizable players, by all accounts, emerged unscathed despite injury scares.
Cornerback Joe Haden and receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster each needed attention from training staff after suffering injuries during the second half of Sunday’s 27-3 win at the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coach Mike Tomlin, though, dismissed both under his catch-all injury category of “minor bumps and bruises associated with play.”
Haden, whose injury was not specified, returned to the game. Smith-Schuster did not play over much of the fourth quarter, but CBS reported Smith-Schuster had a toe injury and could have played if the game’s outcome were in doubt.
Smith-Schuster appeared to suffer the injury while stepping on a penalty flag as it lied on the ground.
“I don’t think it’s anything major,” Tomlin said, though he did not acknowledge whether the injury “could be a factor” for Smith-Schuster and/or others in the coming days, particularly with the Steelers on a short week in advance of their Thanksgiving night game against the Baltimore Ravens.
After the game, a message posted to the verified Twitter account of Haden read he will “be fine!! Scared myself though….. not (going to) lie!.”
Tomlin said he would provide an update on Gentry’s injury during his Monday news conference. But the expected longterm loss of Gentry left the Steelers with starter Eric Ebron as the lone tight end on the active roster. Vance McDonald remains isolated from the team after his positive covid-19 test two weeks ago.
The Steelers have two tight ends on their practice squad: Pine-Richland alumnus Kevin Rader and Charles Jones, whom they signed last week.
Rookie offensive lineman Kevin Dotson also is on the reserve/covid-19 list. Tomlin said he had no update on the condition or status of Dotson or McDonald but said he might later in the week.
McDonald and Dotson weren’t the only individuals absent from Sunday’s game because of covid-19 protocols: The Jaguars were without defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich.
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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