The Bengals TE Room Is Finally A Bright Spot
Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
This Thursday was the first time in a while that I have thought about wide receiver great Jimmy Smith. I remember very little, if anything, from his days with the Jaguars (I was a wee child, cut me some slack). That said, I do know that in 2000, he torched the Baltimore Ravens for 291 receiving yards. He accumulated this total on 15 receptions, three of which were touchdowns. But despite his astronomical performance, the Ravens came away victorious. It was the highest yardage total for a receiver in NFL history in a loss.
It still is, but Ja’Marr Chase gave that record a run for its money, racking up 264 yards in a loss to, coincidentally enough, the Ravens.
Men only want one thing and it's disgusting: Ja'Marr Chase against this Ravens secondary. pic.twitter.com/DDg4KF6ytb
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) November 8, 2024
Chase’s performance was historic, as he set the single-season record for most yards against one opponent in a single season. He showed zero mercy against a Ravens secondary that thought a deadline deal for an underperforming Tre’Davious White would solve their secondary problems.
Despite 457 yards and five touchdowns in those two games — which by themselves would still rank 37th and tied for seventh among pass-catchers — the Bengals were swept in the season series against Baltimore. The obvious place to place blame is a defense that has deeply underperformed. However, we should also point to the lack of consistent performance to compliment Chase, the NFL’s Triple Crown leader in each receiving category.
On paper, this was supposed to be the most talented receiver corps in the league. Tee Higgins was supposed to come back from injury. Charlie Jones and Andrei Iosivas were supposed to make Year 2 leaps. Jermaine Burton was drafted to take the tops off of defenses. While there have been flashes of great play from each of those players, they’ve largely been disappointing and worse, inconsistent. Higgins has been absent for 50% of the team’s games, Yoshi has averaged exactly one reception per game since Week 4, Jones has been relegated to special teams, and Burton had his mind on a different kind of game after he was a healthy scratch.
🚨TRENDING: #Bengals rookie receiver Jermaine Burton was spotted at a casino alone.
Burton, was a healthy scratch again yesterday and did not show up for Saturday's walkthrough. pic.twitter.com/tqc1iAZWYe
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 4, 2024
(In case you’re wondering how long it took me to make a “slots receiver” joke, the answer is 2.7 seconds.)
On the bright side, outside of Chase, the Bengals’ saving grace has been their bigger targets. In particular, one 6-foot-6 target who has been making some noise lately. Hit that Griddy, Mike.
NFL 11/07
Mike Gesicki over 51 yds
Ravens secondary benefits receiving yds props and Gesicki specifically has been heavily targeted last couple weeks from Burrow. Expect that trend to continue with Higgins out. pic.twitter.com/eAycx3U6Wm
— Shamus Ignoramus (@imrob79) November 7, 2024
Mike Gesicki has been the bright spot from an otherwise brutal 2024 free agent class for Cincinnati. He’s now the second-leading receiver for the Bengals in 2024 with 34 receptions and 383 yards. He’s led Cincinnati in receiving yards in three out of the five games in which Higgins has been out.
“Mike is going to continue to make plays, and he just continues to get open in [zone coverage],” Burrow said after the Bengals’ Week 9 win vs. the Raiders. “He wins versus man. He makes big-time catches. He makes contested catches, and he continues to show why I have so much trust in him. He continues to make plays for us. So, his role is going to continue to increase.”
Unfortunately, the Bengals lost Erick All to an ACL tear in Week 9, but Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson have also stepped up in his absence. They haven’t lit up the stat sheet as pass-catchers, but they both found the end zone in Weeks 9 and 10, respectively. Sample has been the Bengals’ primary blocking tight end for the majority of his career, and Hudson has been a reliable safety net since he was signed by the Bengals prior to the 2023 season. While Chase’s monstrous night took center stage against Baltimore, Hudson was the third-leading pass catcher for the Bengals on Thursday, outside of the Two Chases.
Tanner Hudson : 6 catches for 42 yards & a TD on 7 targets pic.twitter.com/Y0OxPN9sm7
— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) November 8, 2024
Cincy’s wide receivers not named “Always [Redacted] Open” should still have their moments in 2024. The Bengals will have plenty of time to regroup as a unit, as they have one game remaining in the calendar month of November, which, fun fact: happens to be the second consecutive game where the opposing coach is named “Harbaugh.” For now, however, the tight end room has been the safety net for Joe Burrow, and — until Higgins gets healthy or Iosivas, Burton, or Jones can figure things out — will likely continue to be until further notice.
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