5 Steelers players trending up following Week 8 win vs Browns
By Tommy Jaggi
The Pittsburgh Steelers got some impressive performances out of many of their players against the Browns. Here are five players trending up heading into Week 9.
The Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 season has been toying with our emotions. After defeating the Buffalo Bills on the road in Week 1, Mike Tomlin’s team lost three straight games in some ugly performances. Fortunately, his team was able to climb back into the thick of things on Pittsburgh’s current three-game win streak.
Traveling to Cleveland, the Steelers were the underdogs in this game but emerged victorious after a dominant defensive performance on the road. While the offense still has plenty to prove, here are five players who are rapidly trending up after strong showings in Week 8 against the Browns:
Steelers TE Zach Gentry
I’ve got to admit, I’m thoroughly impressed with what Zach Gentry has been able to provide this football team in 2021. There were plenty of roster predictions around Steelers media that didn’t even have Gentry making the final 53-man roster, as they believed Pittsburgh would choose to cut Zach Gentry.
However, a few months later, we are talking about Gentry as one of Pittsburgh’s impressive performances. Gentry has been a quality blocker all season, but with Eric Ebron out in Week 8, Gentry proved why he could be a capable TE2 behind rookie Pat Freiermuth (who we will talk about on this list). The big tight end earned the highest offensive grade on the team this week, according to Pro Football Focus.
In a bigger role this week, the big tight end used his 6’8”, 265-pound frame to seal off defenders and create running lanes — an area where he has done exceptionally well this year. He also hauled in 3 passes for 39 yards on 5 targets. Gentry is never going to be a special player in space, but his massive frame and physicality make him a great fit as the team’s number two tight end, and the Steelers have found reason to give him more snaps on offense.