The only thing more exciting than Zac Taylor’s update on Bengals tight end Erick All Jr., is Erick All Jr.’s update on himself
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Erick All Jr. is back practicing, and feeling as good as he’s ever felt. Head coach Zac Taylor knows exactly what that means for his offense.
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Erick All Jr. is back. Head coach Zac Taylor knows what that means for his offense.
“The word physical in the dictionary is a picture of Erick All, trying to put his face though somebody’s soul,” Taylor told reporters Tuesday.
Okay then!
All has been on the mend for quite some time. He tore his ACL during his rookie season in 2024, which was the same ACL he tore during his final year in college in 2023. He missed all of 2025 as well as he needed to, essentially, rebuild his right knee.
It’s been a long and scary road, but All is back practicing at OTAs and feeling really good about the upcoming 2026 season.
Erick All Jr. sounds really optimistic about his health
Spending all of last season rehabbing in the background has given All plenty of time to prepare for his return. With luck, he has his first fully healthy season since 2022.
As it happens, he’s feeling like that version of himself four years later.
“It feels completely stable. It feels like a normal knee,” All told reporters Tuesday. “I can plant on it really good. I can bend it really good. Everything is completely different, and that gets me hyped up. This is the best I’ve felt (in the pros). I feel like my old self.”
Cincinnati selected All in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was available that late because of his injury and durability concerns, as he also had a back problem that was later revealed to be overblown.
The Bengals have only drafted one TE in the first three rounds (Drew Sample) in the last 10 years. With a clean bill of health, All would’ve easily been taken in that range. He’s a talent Cincinnati does not have at the position other than him.
Sample can block. Mike Gesicki can attack defenses downfield. All can do both, and is still 25 years old.
He turns 26 the exact day the Bengals’ regular season begins. Taylor wants to see him out there for Week 1, and will handle things with caution until then.
“It’s been challenging for him. I think he’s handled it really well,” Taylor said. “Now we’re in the progression phase getting back on the field with no contact or anything right now. We’ll assess training camp as it gets closer, but it’s been really good to get him on the field, have him back in the walkthroughs. I think mentally for him that’s probably been really helpful, just not sitting over there doing the rehab things.”
Whatever path gets him to meet somebody’s soul in the trenches again, is the right path. All sounds ready, and his coach will give him the full green light when it’s time.