CINCINNATI — The Bengals will doubtless be with out their high tight finish for Week 14.
Hayden Hurst will probably be uncertain for the crew’s contest in opposition to the Cleveland Browns, Bengals coach Zac Taylor mentioned Monday. Hurst left Cincinnati’s 27-24 victory over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs with a proper calf harm.
Taylor mentioned the crew continues to be gathering extra data on the problem.
“But it surely’s gonna be uncertain this week,” Taylor mentioned.
Hurst’s last play got here on an incomplete move supposed for him with out about three minutes remaining within the first quarter. Taylor mentioned it is unclear if that’s when Hurst sustained the harm. He was initially dominated questionable to return earlier than finally being downgraded to out over the course of the competition.
Hurst, a first-round draft choose in 2018, signed a one-year cope with the Bengals to switch the outgoing C.J. Uzomah, who signed a long-term contract with the New York Jets after Cincinnati’s run to the Tremendous Bowl final season. Hurst was third on the crew in whole receptions and had two catches for 12 yards earlier than he acquired harm in opposition to Kansas Metropolis.
If Hurst misses Cincinnati’s upcoming sport in opposition to Cleveland (5-7), the Bengals (8-4) will probably be with out their two major tight ends. Backup Drew Pattern, a 2019 second-round draft choose, was positioned on injured reserve on Oct. 3 with a knee harm.
Mitchell Wilcox, a third-year participant out of South Florida, is tentatively slotted to maneuver into the beginning position, with Devin Asiasi as the first reserve tight finish. Asiasi was acquired after the New England Patriots waived him as a part of the crew’s last roster cutdown on the finish of coaching camp.
Taylor praised James Casey, the crew’s tight ends coach, for the manufacturing from the reserves all through the season. “We count on there to be restricted dropoff from the following man,” Taylor mentioned.
In extra information, the Bengals waived longtime punter Kevin Huber. Huber grew up regionally, performed for the College of Cincinnati and was drafted by the Bengals in 2009. He holds the file for many video games performed in franchise historical past (216).
“We appreciated each second he was right here,” crew president Mike Brown mentioned in a uncommon public assertion. “He has been a steadying pressure for us, a superb participant and particular person. Any soccer crew can be blessed to have him for the size of time we did.”
In Week 11, Drue Chrisman changed Huber because the starter. Bengals particular groups coordinator Darrin Simmons mentioned the crew opted to waive Huber early within the week to see if he may probably discover a spot on one other crew’s 53-man roster. Simmons mentioned the crew is open to having Huber change Chrisman’s spot on the observe squad.
“I really feel fairly assured in saying he feels fairly snug right here and would in all probability nonetheless prefer to be part of this,” Simmons mentioned.
