Cincinnati Bengals Expected to Sign Tight End

The Cincinnati Bengals are pouncing on a recent Buffalo Bills release. According to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, the team is likely to sign tight end O.J. Howard:

That was fast: The #Bengals are hosting FA TE OJ Howard on a visit today and assuming all goes well with the physical, he’s expected to sign, source said. The former first-rounder was a surprising cut yesterday and this should come together today.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2022

Rumors of disappointing play from Howard emerged earlier this month, but that apparently hasn't discouraged the Bengals. The team is likely hoping to bolster a tight end group that lost C.J. Uzomah earlier this offseason.

Initially drafted 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2017 NFL Draft, Howard showed potential across his first two seasons, hauling 997 receiving yards on an incredibly efficient 11.5 yards per target in only 24 games. But injuries proved a constant obstacle for the tight end, and his production has declined steadily over the past three years even as Tampa's fortunes improved. Should he rediscover the promise he flashed in his early career, the Bengals could be adding a valuable blocker and pass catcher to an already dominant receiving corps that includes budding superstars Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.