Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample will miss extended time after suffering a knee injury during his team’s Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
According to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, the injury and subsequent surgery could cost him the rest of the season.
“Drew’s just one of those tough, smart football players. He’s what we want to be about. There’s just so many of those little nuances,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. “Sure, you coach him, James (Casey) coaches his tail off to get those guys ready, but Drew is one of those guys that really sees it from a coach’s mindset. I’m not going say it comes easy to him because he really works at it. He’s really physical, he’s blocked some big time guys at times, lots of key plays over the past couple of years and just a reliable guy.”
Sample, a second-round pick, has been a primary piece of the offense as a blocker while free-agent add Hayden Hurst handles the pass-catching duties.
With Sample out, Devin Asiasi will make his debut against the New York Jets in Week 3, health provided. He was one of three notable waiver wire claims by the team while the league cut down to 53 players this summer.
