Steelers offensive lineman Zach Banner is still looking to prove he has what it takes to protect Ben Roethlisberger, but a major ACL injury in the first game of last season derailed that temporarily.
Banner is also starting the 2021 season on Injured Reserve and will miss two more games before he can return.
And according to him, his plans are to be on the field Week 4 when the Steelers head up to Green Bay to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
“That’s what I’m striving for,” Banner told The PM Team during his weekly show, “Let’s Tackle it, with Zach Banner.”
When asked by Chris Mueller has he’s feeling, Banner said, “better every day bro, like I mean that the coaches and the trainers and the strength staff and everything, they’re just making the who place available.”
“I live at that building, until I’m back that’s where I live,” said Banner talking about his rehab at the UPMC South Side Rooney Complex.
Banner says he expects the offensive line to improve while he is out because they were able to finally play at a unit, obviously excluding himself.
“There’s gonna be some great things one of them that I noticed before I watched the tape yesterday was definitely the hustle and definitely the finish,” said Banner. “I told you guys it’s that game mentality that we’re taking on this year and you can see that pride and passion all the way from the first quarter to the last snap.”
When Banner does return, Mike Tomlin will need to figure out what he will do with Chuks Okorafor, who started Training Camp on the left side but was not apparently adjusting well there.