Sam Hubbard's suspicion has been confirmed and his future with the Bengals now comes into question
Cincinnati Bengals edge defender Sam Hubbard has indeed torn his PCL in his right knee, aligning with his initial assessment after Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans. Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Hubbard's injury will likely end his 2024 season. Hubbard got hurt while scoring the first and only offensive touchdown of his career. The seventh-year defensive […]
Cincinnati Bengals edge defender Sam Hubbard has indeed torn his PCL in his right knee, aligning with his initial assessment after Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans.
Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Hubbard's injury will likely end his 2024 season.
Hubbard got hurt while scoring the first and only offensive touchdown of his career. The seventh-year defensive lineman took his sixth offensive snap of the year during the second quarter of Sunday's 37-27 victory and caught Joe Burrow's second touchdown pass of the afternoon.
After the game, Hubbard told reporters he believed he hurt his PCL, which has now been confirmed by him. He made it known Monday afternoon that he will not need surgery for it.
Hubbard has had a rough 2024. He suffered a bad hamstring injury during training camp and missed the entire preseason because of it. It was clear he wasn't 100% healthy to start the season and played through the back-half of his recovery. His production mightily struggled as a result, and his average snaps per game went from 42.4 from Weeks 1-7 to 27 from Weeks 8-15. He only played 10 on Sunday due to the injury.
A torn PCL may not only end Hubbard's season, it could be what ends his time in Cincinnati altogether.
Bengals will have a tough decision to make on Sam Hubbard in 2025
The Bengals extended Hubbard to a four-year, $40 million contract back in 2021. That contract runs through the 2025 season, but if they were to release him next year, they would be able to save $9.6 million in salary cap space. Hubbard's 2025 salary of $9 million is currently the fourth-highest on the roster.
For a 29-year old edge defender who just went through a rough year as a starter, the Bengals will find it difficult to justify keeping Hubbard at that number. He hasn't been an effective pass rusher in quite some time, and he's not the elite run defender he used to be during his peak seasons. He ranks 58th out of 66 qualifying edge defenders in Pro Football Focus' pass rush win rate this season.
When the offseason comes around, Hubbard's contract will be circled as a problem. The solutions range from asking him to take a pay cut, trading him away, or releasing him. With coaching changes likely to take place on the defensive side of the ball, the latter will be the most likely path the club goes down.
If Hubbard's touchdown was the last play he'll ever make as a Bengal, that's one helluva way to go out. The one thing we do know is he will not be able to help the team make its final push towards an unlikely playoff berth.
Ja’Marr Chase lands on an appropriate punishment for young Bengals player’s mistake vs Titans
Chase showcased his leadership in his own way.
