Bengals’ Tight End Erick All Jr. Cleared to Practice
The Cincinnati Bengals have announced that tight end Erick All Jr. has been cleared to practice after successfully passing a physical examination. This update comes as a significant development for All, who had been on the Active/Non-Football Injury (NFI) list since July 20. All was placed on the NFI list as he continued his recovery from a torn ACL, an injury he sustained during the 2023 college football season while playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
All, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 253 pounds, was selected by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, with the 115th overall pick. Before joining the Bengals, he had an impressive college career, spending his final season with Iowa after transferring from Michigan. At Michigan, All played from 2019 to 2022, where he became a key player on the field. Over his college career, he appeared in 40 games, starting 19 of them, and accumulated 75 receptions for 864 yards and five touchdowns.
The initial expectation was that All might start the regular season on the NFI list, which would have rendered him ineligible for the first four games of the season. This was due to the lingering effects of his ACL injury, which raised concerns about his readiness for the start of the NFL season. However, with his recent clearance to practice, these concerns have been alleviated.
All’s return to practice is timely as he faces the competitive challenge of making the Bengals’ 53-man roster. The tight end position is notably deep this year for the Bengals, with several strong contenders already on the team. These include Mike Gesicki, a prominent free-agent signing; Tanner Hudson, who has shown potential in previous seasons; Drew Sample, who has been a reliable contributor; and Tanner McLachlan, another 2024 draft pick who brings fresh talent to the group.
With the preseason approaching, All will need to demonstrate his full recovery and prove his worth to secure a spot on the final roster. The competition will be fierce, as the Bengals look to finalize their team and prepare for the upcoming season. All’s progress and performance during training camp will be closely monitored as he aims to make a significant impact on the team.
