Last year before the season, Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert called his injury history a “fluke thing.”
Now new head coach Zac Taylor is thinking along those same lines.
Taylor told the media they are purposely bringing along Eifert slowly and that last year’s season-ending injury suffered in Week 4 was a fluke:
“No. 1, it’s, ‘Let’s make sure Tyler is ready to play against Seattle.’ We know what he can do on tape. The live reps he’s gotten so far just running are really good for me to see. This dude can play some ball. Just keep him healthy. Last year was a fluke deal, so you say he’s injury prone, but last year was a fluke deal. We are mindful to take care of him and ease him in there.”
Eifert, after returning from back injuries and otherwise, suffered the gruesome ankle injury in Atlanta and didn’t return last season.
Bengals fans are well-versed in this area now. Eifert’s 13 touchdowns in as many games in 2015 represent the ceiling and why the front office keeps extending him. He’s played in one, 13, eight, two and four games over his last five seasons.
Fluke injury or not and new head coach or not, it’s clear the Bengals blueprint has earmarked a heavy set of usage for Eifert in 2019. Neither party can afford another fluke, especially after some of the offensive losses already in the form of A.J. Green and two starting offensive linemen.
