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Bengals tight end faces another heartbreaking injury setback after missing entire 2025 season
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- Bengals tight end faces another heartbreaking injury setback after missing entire 2025 season
Bengals tight end faces another heartbreaking injury setback after missing entire 2025 season originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Cincinnati Bengals earned an important victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, but one of the team's young players is now facing another difficult challenge.
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Tight end Erick All Jr. was placed on injured reserve Tuesday after suffering a knee injury during Cincinnati's 35-13 victory. The transaction is particularly concerning because of All's extensive injury history.
Ian Rapoport reported that the injury is feared to be a torn ACL. The Bengals have not publicly confirmed that diagnosis, but the move to injured reserve guarantees All will miss at least four games. For a player who already lost the entire 2025 season to a previous knee injury, the latest development is an especially disappointing setback.
All's road back has been anything but easy
Cincinnati selected All in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft after his college career at Michigan and Iowa.
He entered the league with considerable potential but also a history of significant injuries.
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All suffered a torn ACL during his final college season at Iowa in 2023. He then appeared in nine games during his rookie NFL season, catching 20 passes for 158 yards before another ACL injury ended his campaign.
Complications with his recovery contributed to him missing the entire 2025 season.
The Bengals finally welcomed him back in 2026, providing another opportunity to establish himself in the offense. Through six games this season, All recorded eight receptions for 56 yards.
Those statistics were modest, but his return represented meaningful progress after such a lengthy absence. Now his immediate playing future is uncertain again.
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Cincinnati makes multiple roster moves
The Bengals responded Tuesday by signing tight end Cam Grandy from the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad. Grandy previously spent time with Cincinnati and appeared in 13 games across the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
He recorded seven receptions for 35 yards during that stretch. Cincinnati also signed Caden Prieskorn to its practice squad and placed Josh Kattus on the practice squad injured list.
The moves come at a difficult time for the Bengals' tight end group.
Veteran Tanner Hudson was placed on injured reserve earlier in October, leaving Cincinnati with additional questions about its depth at the position. Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample remain important options, while other players could receive expanded opportunities depending on the team's offensive plans.
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A bigger concern than the depth chart
The Bengals can adjust their offensive personnel, but All's situation extends beyond the team's immediate roster needs. The 26-year-old has already spent considerable time recovering from serious injuries, and another lengthy absence would represent a difficult continuation of that pattern.
It is important to distinguish the confirmed transaction from the reported medical concern.
All is officially on injured reserve with a knee injury. A new ACL tear has been reported as a possibility, not confirmed by the team. Further medical information will determine the extent of his recovery and whether he has a realistic opportunity to return later this season.
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Cincinnati will continue preparing for its next game, but All's latest setback is an unfortunate development for a young player who worked hard simply to get back onto the field.
The hope now is that the medical evaluation provides a more encouraging outlook than the initial reports suggest.
