One of the best moments in any football game is when a player that isn’t typically used to catching the football makes a huge play. That has been the case in Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, and the team may have found a new use for offensive lineman Kendrick Green.
The Steelers had high hopes for Green as an offensive lineman, selecting him in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He started 15 games in 2021, but failed to get on the field last season.
His chances of playing significant time on the offensive line appear to be reliant on some sort of big injury. However, the team has gotten creative with his talent, sparingly using him as a fullback which led to a number of viral videos on social media.
Green has impressed early on in his part-time role out of the backfield, and one play in particular on Saturday certainly turned heads.
Tommy Jaggi of Still Curtain on Fansided posted a video of Green making a catch out of the backfield from backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky, and making a pretty good gain out of the catch after running over one Steelers defender.
Kendrick Green gets the reception this time. Lol. You love to see it. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/v2KoGeZo83
— Tommy Jaggi (@TommyJaggi) August 5, 2023
It likely won’t be something that Steelers fans see all the time, as very few teams use a traditional fullback all the time nowadays. However, fans certainly hope they see this wrinkle from Green at some point this coming season.
Have the Steelers found a way for Kendrick Green to save his career?
— Donny Football (@DonChed54) August 5, 2023
Kendrick Green catches a pass from Mason Rudolph in the right flat and trucks LB Toby Nduwke. I definitely didn't have this on my 2023 Steelers Friday Night Lights bingo card. pic.twitter.com/G3kaYaovQw
— Billy Hartford (@BudDupreeFan) August 5, 2023
Kendrick Green has become a fan favorite. Catches another pass in the flat, legit runs through Tanner Muse, spins off, stays on his feet, and gets at least 10 yards. Maybe more. This is wild. #Steelers
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) August 5, 2023
Kendrick Green secures the ball again!! pic.twitter.com/Mznpe3ieFc
— Jordan Schofield (@JSKO_PHOTO) August 5, 2023
If you're keeping track, the two 'fullbacks' on the Steelers roster are:
– A TsE who can align anywhere in the formation and make catches anywhere on the field with great hands (Connor Heyward)
– A 315 mack truck that destroys everything in his path (Kendrick Green)
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) August 5, 2023
Kendrick Green RE-BORN Friday night per @BrantonBeardo #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/jG0linE5py
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) August 5, 2023
Longtime Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin spoke about Green’s use out of the backfield in training camp, actually revealing that this is something he has been working on dating back to last season.
“He has done some nice things,” said Tomlin on Green. “But this is not new to him. We discovered it late last season in preparation for Baltimore. We asked KG to provide a quality look for us, and he really did. So we kinda put that in our hip pocket. In an environment like this we want to see what guys are capable of doing.
What does Mike Tomlin think about Kendrick Green at H-back #Steelers @937theFan pic.twitter.com/Y9fn4e0b0R
— Jeff Hathhorn (@jhathhorn) August 5, 2023
Tomlin went on to say that it was a “small sample size” in terms of whether or now we will see this again in the regular season. But at the very least, it appears to be an intriguing option for the Steelers as they prepare for the regular season.
