Bengals signing TE Tanner Hudson off practice squad was the obvious move to make
The Cincinnati Bengals are switching things up where change is needed the most. Tight end Tanner Hudson has been signed off the practice squad to the active roster. Replacing him on the practice squad is linebacker Clay Johnston, whom has previously been with the team. Hudson, who has been on the practice squad all season, had […]
The Cincinnati Bengals are switching things up where change is needed the most.
Tight end Tanner Hudson has been signed off the practice squad to the active roster. Replacing him on the practice squad is linebacker Clay Johnston, whom has previously been with the team.
Hudson, who has been on the practice squad all season, had previously been elevated to the roster for two weeks while starting tight end Irv Smith Jr. was dealing with a hamstring injury. During Smith's two-week absence, Hudson caught four passes for 48 yards on six targets.
In comparison, Smith has 56 yards on 10 receptions and 15 targets this year.
It's no secret that the Bengals have been getting inept production out of their entire tight end group this season. Smith has vastly underwhelmed playing on a frugal one-year deal, and reserves Drew Sample and Mitchell Wilcox are non-factors in the pass game, holding onto roster spots primarily for their blocking abilities.
Hudson's opportunities have been limited, and yet somehow has looked like the most competent receiver the Bengals have at the position. And after the Bengals did nothing to address their glaring weakness at the trade deadline, he became their only option to provide a spark.
It's the very least Cincinnati could do considering how much they've errored at the position this calendar year. They added just Smith to the group before passing on every tight end in the NFL Draft. When the preseason rolled around and Hudson was performing well, they cut him from the final roster and stashed him away on the practice squad.
There should be no reason why Hudson will be cut again. He should honestly start over Smith as soon as possible. We'll find out if that's the case later this week.
Bengals waste an ideal chance to fix glaring roster hole
They struck out looking.
