The Bengals are close to having their No. 2 pass-catcher back on the field, but their Thursday-night assignment complicates matters somewhat. However, Tyler Eifert is shaping up to be a game-time decision this week, when the Bengals host the Dolphins, Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com tweets.
Cincinnati is coming off two straight losses and hasn’t found a reliable secondary pass-catcher after the departures of Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu have the group devoid of proven holdovers. C.J. Uzomah has seven receptions for 99 yards in Eifert’s stead, but the Bengals’ offense received 13 touchdown receptions from its breakout tight end last season and is now without its Nos. 2, 3 and 5 targets from 2015.
Eifert practiced Monday on a limited basis. Week 4 has served as the team’s target for its tight end for a while as he attempts to complete his recovery from the ankle surgery that sidelined him throughout the preseason. He underwent the ankle operation on May 25.
The former first-round pick missed 15 games in 2014 with an elbow injury and played in 13 games last season. So, Eifert — who is playing on the fifth-year option worth $4.782MM — will have to wait until 2017 to potentially play his first 16-game season.
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