Bengals Tight End Jermaine Gresham Recovering From Hernia Surgery
Make that two Cincinnati Bengals tight ends on the shelf. With second-year tight end Tyler Eifert already dealing with a shoulder issue, the Bengals now have to deal with their other main tight end, Jermaine Gresham, coming off of a hernia surgery.
Gresham was previously described as sitting out with a “personal issue”, but it has now been reported that he’s been resting and rehabbing.
Gresham should be able to fully recover for week one of the 2014 NFL season, but it’s worth noting that hernia recoveries aren’t an exact science. They can flare up at any time and last longer than expected. Gresham’s recovery will be something to monitor for Cincy, especially with Eifert also having an issue of his own.
On the flip-side, this surgery could be another reason to put even more on Eifert as he progresses in his second season. Provided his shoulder issue is minor and he can get back to full strength long before Gresham (and he’s expected to be able to do so), Eifert would be in the driver’s seat to take over Cincinnati’s starting tight end job.
That’s likely the path Eifert is headed on anyways, as Gresham seemed to be gradually phased out in 2013, while he enters a contract year in 2014. Gresham still led Bengals tight ends with 46 receptions, but lost some time on the field to Eifert, who wasn’t far behind him with 39 catches as a rookie.
Gresham’s contract year status and recovery from hernia surgery could be the perfect recipe for the more talented Eifert to slowly complete his ascension atop the tight end depth chart. Doing so would only make a solid Bengals offense even stronger, as Eifert’s top level talent would give Cincy a better red-zone presence, as well as a more fluid receiver in the middle of the field. Gresham will certainly remain a part of the offense if healthy, however, as he still remains the superior run-blocker in comparison to Eifert.
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