CINCINNATI — The Bengals will doubtless be with out their prime tight finish for Week 14.
Hayden Hurst will probably be uncertain for the staff’s contest in opposition to the Cleveland Browns, Bengals coach Zac Taylor mentioned Monday. Hurst left Cincinnati’s 27-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs with a proper calf damage.
Taylor mentioned the staff continues to be gathering extra data on the difficulty.
“However it’s gonna be uncertain this week,” Taylor mentioned.
Hurst’s remaining 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 damage. 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 take care of the Bengals to exchange 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 staff in complete receptions and had two catches for 12 yards earlier than he bought harm in opposition to Kansas Metropolis.
If Hurst misses Cincinnati’s upcoming recreation in opposition to Cleveland (5-7), the Bengals (8-4) will probably be with out their two major tight ends. Backup Drew Sample, a 2019 second-round draft choose, was positioned on injured reserve on Oct. 3 with a knee damage.
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 staff’s remaining roster cutdown on the finish of coaching camp.
Taylor praised James Casey, the staff’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 further 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 report for many video games performed in franchise historical past (216).
“We appreciated each second he was right here,” staff president Mike Brown mentioned in a uncommon public assertion. “He has been a steadying drive for us, a wonderful participant and a superb individual. Any soccer staff 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 staff opted to waive Huber early within the week to see if he may probably discover a spot on one other staff’s 53-man roster. Simmons mentioned the staff is open to having Huber exchange Chrisman’s spot on the apply 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.