The Bengals on Sunday activated rookie TE Erick All from the non-football injury list. He had been sitting out the start of camp in working back from the October ACL tear that ended his college career prematurely.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor after the draft in April: "Obviously, the injuries are what allowed him to come to us. Otherwise, I don’t think there’s any shot in the world (that) he was there when we got him. The tape spoke very loudly on him, and I think he’s a really good fit for us."
Hobson reported that Cincinnati considered taking All as early as No. 80 overall.
More from Taylor: "I think he can have true separation as a route runner and a catcher. ... They use him down the field. ... He can be a point-of-attack blocker. He likes the physicality aspect of that and he's willing to do it."
All carries plenty of long-term intrigue, but don't bet on much 2024 impact.
The Bengals added TE Mike Gesicki this offseason to a depth chart that returns Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson. They also drafted Tanner McLachlan in Round 6.
It's unlikely that all five of those TEs make the regular-season roster. We'll see exactly how the Bengals sort it all out. But the team has plenty available at the position to avoid hurrying All into action.
Nevertheless, it's clearly a positive sign that Cincinnati's activating the rookie TE before the end of July.
Our rookie rankings have had All late in Round 4 of dynasty rookie drafts. He's a particularly attractive pick when he makes it to Round 5.
All impressed with his athleticism across two college stops. And he immediately became a key target in his lone season at Iowa, despite transferring from Michigan after back surgery.
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