Bengals' Drew Sample: No targets through two weeks
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Sample went without a target across 13 snaps on offense Sunday in the Bengals' 27-24 loss to the Ravens.
Sample has now logged 31 snaps on offense through the first two weeks of the season but has yet to draw a look in the passing game from quarterback Joe Burrow. So long as Irv Smith stays healthy, he'll be entrenched as Cincinnati's top tight end and will continue to dominate the snaps and targets among the position group.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Staying in Cincinnati
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Sample re-signed a with the Bengals on a one-year deal Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Sample has spent the entirety of his four-year career in Cincinnati and will now be tied to the Bengals next season as well. The 26-year-old appeared in just two games last season before injuring both his MCL and PCL and logged two catches for minus-2 yards. Heading into next season, Sample will look to compete for playing time behind presumptive starter Irv Smith.
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Drew Sample: Tries out with Arizona
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The Cardinals brought in Sample (knee) for a workout Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Sample appeared in just two games with the Bengals last year before he sustained a season-ending MCL and PCL injury in his right knee in mid-September. The 27-year-old tight end underwent surgery to address the damage in his knee shortly thereafter before reaching free agency this offseason. Sample's ability to complete a workout signals that he's healthy again, and he could land with Arizona or another team as a depth option before training camps open in late July. Sample never made a significant dent as a receiver over the first four seasons of his career, accruing a 76-458-1 line over 44 games with Cincinnati.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Ends season on IR
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Sample recorded two catches for minus-2 yards over two appearances before missing the rest of the regular season and postseason while recovering from surgery to address MCL and PCL damage to his right knee.
A second-round pick in 2019, Sample never developed into a major receiving option over the four years of his rookie deal. Though Sample could be at or near full health by the spring, the impending free agent isn't a lock to be retained by Cincinnati.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Placed on IR
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Sample (knee) was placed on injured reserve Monday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
As expected, Sample will likely miss the remainder of the season after suffering damage to his MCL and PCL in his right knee Sept. 18 versus the Cowboys. The 26-year-old has a chance to return in early December, though that seems unlikely. Mitchell Wilcox will replace Sample as the top reserve option behind Hayden Hurst at tight end for the time being.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Headed to IR
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Head coach Zac Taylor said the Bengals will place Sample (knee) on injured reserve in the next couple of days, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Sample underwent surgery on his right knee following the team's Week 2 loss to the Cowboys. His return timetable is unclear, but it's possible he'll miss the entire campaign after initial tests revealed damage to his MCL and PCL, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. In Sample's absence, Mitchell Wilcox has stepped up as the Bengals' top backup tight end behind Hayden Hurst.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Could be out for season
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Sample will likely be forced to miss the remainder of the 2022 season due to MCL and PCL damage in his right knee, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Tuesday that Sample is set to undergo surgery following a right knee injury suffered during Sunday's loss to the Cowboys. While the tight end was initially expected to be sidelined for at least a few months, it now appears that he will sit out the rest of the year after initial tests revealed damage to his MCL and PCL, according to Fowler. Sample recorded 11 catches for 81 yards while playing 440 offensive snaps last season, and he will now look to work his way back from this injury as he approaches free agency this offseason. In his stead, Cincinnati will likely turn to Mitchell Wilcox to step up as the team's No. 2 tight end behind Hayden Hurst.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Out for months following surgery
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Coach Zac Taylor said Tuesday that Sample (knee) will have surgery soon and will be out a few months, Marisa Contipelli of the Bengals' official site reports.
Sample suffered the right knee injury during Sunday's Week 2 matchup against the Cowboys. He'll likely head to IR, leaving the Bengals with only two healthy tight ends -- Hayden Hurst and Mitchell Wilcox. Devin Asiasi (quadriceps) has yet to suit up this year, and it's unclear when he'll make his season debut.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Won't return Sunday
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Sample has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Cowboys due to a right knee injury.
Sample hauled in his lone target for minus-4 yards to begin Sunday's matchup, but he sustained a knee injury in the second quarter and was unable to return. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available for the Bengals' Week 3 matchup against the Jets next Sunday.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Full participant Wednesday
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Sample (ankle) was a full participant during Wednesday's practice.
Sample had to be carted off the field after suffering a knee injury at the beginning of August, but the details of the issue were never released. The 2019 second-round pick missed the entire preseason, but he appears to be full go ahead of Week 1. If available Sunday, Sample is projected to be the primary backup behind newcomer Hayden Hurst to start the 2022 campaign.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Returns to practice Wednesday
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Sample (knee) returned to practice Wednesday, Paul Dehner and Jay Morrison of The Athletic reports.
Sample had to be carted off the practice field after suffering a knee injury at the beginning of August, but the details of the issue were never released. He was spotted with a brace and crutches later in the week, and Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said he'd be sidelined for a couple of weeks. The 2019 second-round pick sat out the entire preseason, but he appears to be ramping up after garnering pads for the first time since the initial injury. If healthy, Sample is expected to be the primary backup to newcomer Hayden Hurst to start the season.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Wearing brace after knee injury
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Sample sported a brace on his leg and was walking with a crutch Friday after being carted off the field due to a knee injury in Thursday's practice, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Ben Baby of ESPN adds that coach Zac Taylor expects Sample to miss a couple weeks as a result of the injury.
Sample's left leg injury has been specified as a knee injury. Taylor's prognosis rules Sample out for the Aug. 12 preseason opener, but it's possible Sample could be healthy enough to play in the second preseason game against the Giants on Aug. 21.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Good to go Sunday
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Sample (foot) does not have an injury designation heading into Sunday's game against Baltimore, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
Sample did not practice Wednesday and was a limited participant Thursday, but he was able to return to a full session Friday. He'll take on his usual role as the Bengals' No. 2 tight end behind C.J. Uzomah on Sunday.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Doesn't participate in practice
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Sample didn't participate in Wednesday's practice session due to a foot injury, Jay Morrison of The Athletic reports.
Sample secured his lone target for two yards in Sunday's win over Denver, and he apparently sustained a foot injury in the contest. It's not yet clear whether the injury will prevent him from suiting up Sunday against the Ravens.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Not targeted in win
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Sample failed to draw a target in Sunday's 41-10 win over the Steelers.
Sample played 39 of the Bengals' 68 offensive snaps, just six fewer than starting tight end C.J. Uzomah. The 25-year-old usually isn't a big part of the Cincinnati passing attack even in competitive contests or in games when the Bengals are in catchup mode, but Sample's involvement was even more muted than normal with quarterback Joe Burrow attempting just 24 passes -- his second-fewest of the season -- in the blowout win. Instead, Joe Mixon and the running game was the focal point of the team's offense Week 12.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Catches two passes
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Sample secured two of four targets for nine yards in Sunday's 25-22 loss to the Packers.
Sample saw his first targets of the season Week 5, after going without a look on any of his 103 offensive snaps through the first four games. The 25-year-old logged 21 of the 67 offensive snaps Sunday, ranking a distant second at the position behind No. 1 tight end C.J. Uzomah (56). Sample is irrelevant for fantasy purposes, but an injury to Uzomah would clear a path to more opportunities within the offense.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Behind Uzomah on depth chart
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Sample enters the season behind C.J. Uzomah on the Bengals' initial depth chart.
Last season in the only game in which Uzomah was healthy, Sample saw action on 24 offensive snaps and received just one target. The Bengals run with an "11" formation as much as anyone in the NFL, so it's possible that Sample's workload will mirror what happened in Week 1 last season more than the workload he received after Uzomah got hurt.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Notches first career TD
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Sample caught an eight-yard touchdown pass in Sunday's 37-31 win over the Texans.
The 2019 second-round pick has produced some notable games this season with C.J. Uzomah (Achilles) out of the picture, but this was his first trip to the end zone. Sample has now produced a 38-334-1 line on 50 targets this season.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Three catches in losing effort
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Sample had three catches for 21 yards on four targets in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys.
Sample's activity has picked up the last four weeks, as he's had four or more targets each of those games, but that hasn't translated into that much production. He still doesn't have a touchdown this season, and his highest yardage total in a game has been 52 yards.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Elevated role in loss
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Sample secured all seven targets for 49 yards in the Bengals' 19-7 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.
Sample surprisingly tied Tee Higgins for the team lead in targets while setting the pace in receptions, with slot receiver Tyler Boyd's first-half ejection likely playing a pivotal part in the tight end's elevated role. Sample has had numerous solid efforts during his second season, but Sunday's catch tally tied a career high, while his target total checked in as his second highest of the season. His production is likely to continue fluctuating week to week, but he could enjoy relatively robust volume again in a favorable Week 14 matchup against the Cowboys, especially considering current Bengals quarterbacks Brandon Allen (chest) and Ryan Finley have run conservative attacks thus far in place of Joe Burrow (IR, knee).
