Eric Ebron hasn't played too much of a role for the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ offense in 2021, and now the veteran tight end could be set for an extended absence.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Ebron is expected to undergo knee surgery, which would force him to miss multiple weeks. Fowler notes that the 28-year-old is still seeking a second opinion on his injury, but it seems unlikely that he avoids going under the knife.
Steelers TE Eric Ebron is expected to miss extended time as he braces for potential knee surgery, per source. Ebron, who got injured Week 11, is waiting on a second opinion but a procedure is the likely approach as of now.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) November 23, 2021
Ebron sustained the injury in Pittsburgh's Week 11 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. He had recorded a season-high three receptions during the loss, but may now be looking at a lengthy stay on the shelf.
This season, Ebron has featured in eight games, starting three. The tight end has 12 receptions for 84 yards and one touchdown. He's seen a significantly decreased role in Pittsburgh's passing attack, in part due to the emergence of rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth, who has become one of the team's top pass-catching threats. Ebron was targeted 91 times in 2020 but has seen just 18 passes thrown his way this year, a result of the youth movement taking over the offense.
With Ebron likely to miss a solid chunk of games, the Steelers could seek outside help at tight end or call upon one of Zach Gentry or Kevin Rader to log additional snaps on offense. Gentry has just six receptions this season while Rader has one.
Ebron is an eight-year veteran who joined the Steelers in 2020 on a two-year, $12 million deal. Should this injury sideline him for the year, there's a real chance he's played his last snaps in a Steelers uniform.
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