After a respectable rookie season, Cincinnati Bengals Tight End Tyler Eifert was set to break out with his sophomore effort. Before the season even began, the staff was excited about his progression in the offense, noting how well he and quarterback Andy Dalton had clicked. We got a glimpse of how offensive coordinator Hue Jackson envisioned Eifert’s usage early in the first game of the 2014 campaign, where Eifert made three catches on his first eight snaps. Then disaster struck in the form of a dislocated elbow, that led to shoulder surgery, then he was shelved for the rest of the season.
Now, a full year removed from injury, Tyler Eifert is set for big things in Cincinnati. Back at 100%, everyone in the Bengals organization is excited for him to reach that first round potential that he flashed only two seasons ago. Eifert is the kind of big tight end that screams for red zone touches. He is able to line up in the traditional tight end spot and shift out to the slot, causing match up problems that the Bengals hope will plague opposing defenses throughout the upcoming season. Additionally, he and Dalton’s chemistry continues to grow. In Eifert’s first season and in each of his three camps, Dalton has looked his way often when he needed to make a big play or found himself in a jam. Eifert has tremendous upside and the skill set to lead the team in red zone looks and be among the team leaders in receptions.
Since the start of this year’s camp, Bengals beat writers, along with the coaching staff have been piling accolades upon Eifert, calling him, “impossible to cover” and “catching virtually everything thrown his way,” while looking poised to finally make that jump to elite player status. Hue Jackson is again reiterating how important Eifert is going to be this season, particularly in the red zone. In addition to being 6’6″, Eifert has bulked up to 250 pounds, making him even more of a nightmare in coverage. Now, with veteran tight end Jermaine Gresham being shipped off to Arizona, there is no one to keep Eifert from becoming a dominant pass-catcher in an already potent Bengals aerial attack.
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 08: Tyler Eifert #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball while defended by Jerrell Freeman #50 of the Indianapolis Colts during the NFL game at Paul Brown Stadium on December 8, 2013 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
