The Cincinnati Bengals are ready to put their bad days behind them. With quarterback Joe Burrow at the helm, the AFC North team wants to claim its rightful place as an NFL top-level team. However, it’s not all fun and games, as the team had to make choices regarding one weapon.
Tight end Erick All Jr. was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform List. The second-year player had two offseason surgeries after a torn ACL stopped his rookie season on its tracks.
Burrow still has Mike Gesicki as the first tight end on the roster, but All was proving to be effective until injuries struck. He started 6 out of the 9 games he played on the season. Not only that, but he was as reliable as they come. All caught 20 of 22 targets for 158 yards.
All has high upside… if healthy
The sophomore played five seasons at the collegiate level with Michigan and Iowa. He displayed enough to get drafted in the 4th round of the 2024 draft. All never had the most impressing numbers, but he was being a great escape vaulve for Joe Burrow.
Erick All Jr. #83 of the Cincinnati Bengals in action against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on October 13, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Pairing himself with a solid veteran like Mike Gesicki, the Bengals hoped to have a great tight end duo. Of course, they all fall back in the pecking order to wide receiver-stars, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
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Joe Burrow, Bengals receive intriguing news about first-round pick Shemar Stewart amid Trey Hendrickson’s contract situation
The Bengals’ problem is not the offense…
Joe Burrow will produce the goods, he is arguably a top 3 quarterback in the NFL. Ja’Marr Chase is basically the best wideout in the league after winning the receiving Triple Crown. Tee Higgins would arguably be a WR1 in 90% of the teams as well.
The Bengals have two key issues. One is their defense, and that is a mess they haven’t cleaned up. Sam Hubbard retired, Trey Hendrickson is holding out and there are no signs of a new deal being made. Their first-round pick Shemar Stewart is also nowhere to be seen. So, that’s an issue they have to solve. The Bengals defense ranked 26th in points allowed last year as well…
The other is this weird trend under Zac Taylor that the team pretty much wastes September. The Bengals are 1-11 in weeks 1 and 2 under Taylor. This means that in 6 years of coaching the team, they are never prepared to start the season. This translates to the whole first month at times. Hence, Bengals then always enter this ‘playing catch up‘ mode and that’s why they’ve missed the playoffs. Sometimes, it’s not enough.
