Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Zach Banner joined The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio earlier this week to discuss his recovery and recent departures from the Steelers offensive line. Banner, who suffered an torn ACL in Week 1 of the 2020 season, stated that his recovery is going better than planned and he is hoping he will be ready to participate in Steelers mini camp. Mini camp typically commences in mid-May, but a date has not been determined for 2021 due to COVID-19.

Banner also stated that he obtained a second opinion from a well-respected physician on the west coast at the beginning of free agency and they were impressed with his recovery. Banner noted that the physician said his recovery was well ahead of schedule and “his knee looked like a knee that was 9 months post-surgery, not 6 months”. The Steelers will be relying heavily on a healthy Banner to start the 2021 season after seeing two of their five starting lineman depart so far in the 2021 offseason.

Banner also was asked about his reaction to signing a two-year contract extension and Banner stated how excited he was, but isn’t satisfied. “This isn’t the end goal. My goal is to become one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL. I want to win Super Bowls and make Pro Bowls”, said Banner. Banner, who signed with the Steelers in the 2018 offseason, has molded into a starting NFL tackle in Pittsburgh. Everyone within Steeler Nation is excited to see how Banner can build off of last season and can’t wait to cheer #72 on at Heinz Field in 2021.

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