Tight end Tyler Eifert was a big part of the Cincinnati Bengals' offensive success last season, and the team may be without him at the start of the 2016 season.
Bengals TE Tyler Eifert had ankle surgery, may miss start of season
A tough break for the Bengals.
David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
Eifert had ankle surgery to address an injury he suffered in the Pro Bowl, and although it is described as a “minor procedure,” the recovery time is three months. ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Eifert may miss the first couple of games of the season.
After leaving the Pro Bowl in a walking boot, Eifert was expected to be able to recover without surgical intervention. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Eifert’s ankle did not heal as quickly or thoroughly as anticipated, making surgery necessary.
Eifert finished last season with 615 receiving yards, and had the third-most receptions on the entire team. His 13 receiving touchdowns were the best among all tight ends and tied for second most in the league. Andy Dalton looked better in 2015 than he had throughout his career, and Eifert was a big factor. The Bengals also lost receivers Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu in free agency, making Eifert even more important as a target for Dalton.
It’s not the first time Eifert has been sidelined with injury. He might have been more prolific in 2015, but suffered a stinger and a concussion toward the end of the season that took him out of action. Eifert missed most of the 2014 season as well as this past offseason with a torn labrum.
It’s unfortunate for Cincinnati, and for Eifert, as his presence on the field improves the chances that Dalton will be able to build on his 2015 performance.
The Bengals drafted two tight ends in the 2015 NFL Draft, so look for Tyler Kroft or C.J. Uzomah to fill in should Eifert be unable to take the field early in the season. Kroft is the more likely option, having played in all 16 regular season games as a rookie, finishing with 129 receiving yards and a touchdown on 11 receptions. Uzomah played just 48 snaps last season and had one target.
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