Tyler Eifert, Jermaine Gresham not at practice
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) makes a catch and looks for running room during the first quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham caught three passes for 49 yards and a touchdown in the team’s easy, blowout win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16, and he showed no ill-effects after a Week 15 abdomen injury. Gresham practiced on the Thursday and Friday before the Vikings game, and he was only listed probable on the Bengals official injury report.
Interestingly enough, though, ESPN NFL Nation’s Coley Harvey reports that Gresham isn’t practicing today, and he wasn’t able to practice yesterday either. With the Bengals AFC North title sealed, there could be more motivation to simply sit Gresham out this week as a precaution. While it would be nice to defeat the Baltimore Ravens and their rival’s chances of getting into the playoffs, it’s possible that they are worried about Gresham suffering a setback. Tomorrow’s practice will seal whether or not he plays this week, but it isn’t looking likely now that it is being reported that he isn’t at practice today. Did Gresham suffer a setback? That remains to be seen.
The Bengals are expected to have one of their tight ends in their crucial TE duo, but both players aren’t at practice today. Harvey also reports that Notre Dame rookie Tyler Eifert is absent from today’s practice with a shoulder stinger that he suffered against the Vikings. Eifert caught just one pass for six yards due to the injury, and he seems questionable for this week’s game. Both players are toss-ups this week until further notice, but we’ll know more about both tight ends tomorrow.