The Cincinnati Bengals have officially ruled tight end Erick All Jr. out for the entire 2026 NFL season, according to the team's injury report released on June 12. This decision confirms ongoing concerns about All's knee recovery after he suffered a torn ACL in October 2024 and subsequently missed all of the 2025 season.
All, the Bengals' 2024 fourth-round draft pick, has undergone three ACL surgeries since his initial injury. Despite expressing optimism during offseason team activities that his knee feels "completely stable," the medical staff's evaluation differs, leading to his absence for another full campaign.
A Setback After Limited Playing Time
The 2026 season will mark the third consecutive year that Erick All Jr. has been sidelined for significant portions or the entirety of the Bengals' campaign. After appearing in only a handful of games through his first two professional seasons, All's early career has been severely impacted by injury. Over six games played as a pro, he has recorded just five receptions.
The loss of All stalls the development plan the Bengals envisioned when they invested their 2024 fourth-round pick in a young tight end with clear athletic upside who could eventually stretch the field and serve as a versatile weapon alongside elite receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Impact on the Tight End Room
Heading into training camp, Cincinnati's tight end corps lacks the youthful, dynamic element All was projected to bring. The group returns four veterans who saw meaningful playing time in 2025:
- Mike Gesicki: 28 receptions for 307 yards and 2 touchdowns across 13 games
- Tanner Hudson: 19 receptions for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns in 15 games
- Drew Sample: 15 receptions for 106 yards and 1 touchdown in 17 games
- Cam Grandy: 2 receptions for 7 yards over 5 games
Gesicki, now entering his 31st year, remains the clear starter and primary target in the passing game. Hudson and Sample provide value as specialized role players--Hudson frequently utilized in passing situations on third down and Sample excelling as a blocking tight end. Grandy is primarily a depth contributor.
While functional, this veteran group does not replace the potential All offered as a developing athlete who could emerge as a mismatch threat and elevate the Bengals' 12-personnel (two-tight end) packages.
Limited Young Talent for Depth
The Bengals also have rookie Jack Endries, a 2026 seventh-round pick, on the roster. Historically, tight ends selected late in the draft rarely make an immediate impact, with fewer than 15% achieving a 20-catch season in their rookie year league-wide. Endries appears poised to battle for a practice squad spot rather than an active roster role.
Undrafted free agent Josh Kattus rounds out the tight end room but has not yet seen regular-season action.
With All out, the Bengals will rely heavily on their older veterans--Gesicki, Hudson, and Sample--for the coming year. None are expected to substantially increase their share of targets, and the overall tight end target volume remains low relative to the team's heavy passing offense, which focused more on wide receivers and backs in 2025.
Developmental Concerns
The primary consequence of losing All this season is developmental lost opportunity more than immediate on-field production. Tight ends typically take significant time to transition from raw athletes to fully featured weapons, often not reaching their peak output until their third NFL season.
2026 was supposed to be that pivotal third-year mark for All--a common timeframe for a tight end to progress into a more defined and impactful role. Without the ability to participate in training camp and see game reps, that timeline will slip dramatically.
Cincinnati's offense utilizes 12 personnel on roughly 22% of snaps, a formation that pairs two tight ends. Without All's athleticism to threaten linebackers vertically, defensive coordinators may treat these packages as primarily run-based or obvious passing downs without fearing a seam threat on the weak side. Although Hudson and Sample are savvy veterans, they do not impose the same vertical matchup problem All could have developed into.
Cap and Roster Considerations
The Bengals currently carry nine tight ends on their offseason roster, a number that will be trimmed to three or four for the active roster by the start of the regular season, with possibly one or two allocated to the practice squad. All's absence frees a spot but does not offer meaningful salary cap relief, as his contract is already accounted for.
According to Over the Cap, Cincinnati has approximately $16.47 million in available cap space. While sufficient to absorb All's contract, the team is unlikely to pursue a significant free-agent tight end acquisition at this late stage in the offseason, given the limited impact options available on the market.
Front Office Perspective
General Manager Duke Tobin addressed the roster construction on June 5, emphasizing confidence in the current group. "We have a lot of guys that played a lot of football," Tobin said, reinforcing belief in the tight ends on the roster. He added, "We're always looking. This is a 12-month thing," indicating ongoing evaluation but no planned urgent moves at tight end.
The Bengals appear set to move forward with their established veterans and developmental prospects rather than making an emergency trade or signing.
Conclusion: A Lost Investment and Lingering Question Marks
The Bengals made a well-reasoned gamble on Erick All Jr.'s ability to recover and develop into a key offensive piece. Unfortunately, the repeated ACL surgeries and consecutive missed seasons have placed him in a precarious position. Though only 24 years old now (turning 25 in September), All has spent more time rehabbing than playing since his injury.
For the immediate future, his absence does not cripple the offense. The Bengals will lean heavily on their star wide receivers, their running backs, and a steady veteran core at tight end that lacks dynamic upside. The passing game remains intact, but the mismatch element that a healthy All might have introduced remains missing.
From a development standpoint, the setback sets the team back considerably at a position where they were hoping to see growth and greater offensive versatility. The Bengals will need to continue investing draft picks or free-agent dollars in a tight end prospect who can provide that kind of impact in upcoming seasons.
Until then, the team must rely on dependable veterans who can win games but are less likely to change how opposing defenses structure their game plans.
Erick All Jr. was meant to be that game-changer in the tight end slot. For now, that role remains unfilled, and the Bengals face another offseason shaped by recovery and uncertainty at the position.
