Sam

Hubbard

Hubbard’s injury-marred career ends after just seven years in Cincinnati. He suffered a major knee injury in mid-December and missed the remainder of the 2024 season before calling it quits in a social media post on Wednesday. Hubbard, 29, ends his NFL career with 38.5 sacks and 236 solo tackles. His play fell off in 2024, as Hubbard managed just ten QB hurries over 14 games, along with two sacks. He was an explosive EDGE rusher when healthy and helped power the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance in 2022.

Zac Taylor refused to rule Hubbard out for the season but said he was out for this week for sure. Hubbard hurt his knee catching a touchdown from Joe Burrow, a fitting way for a Bengals defender to end the season after all the harm they’ve done to Burrow this year. Hubbard is entering the final year of a four-year, $40 million extension with the Bengals in 2025. He’s no lock to remain on the roster after a two-sack, 25-solo tackle season.

Hubbard got an offensive snap and caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Joe Burrow in the second quarter of the Bengals’ Week 15 game against the Titans. Medical staff checked out his knee after the score and he headed to the locker room early as the Bengals declared him out for the game. Hubbard’s next chance to play will be Week 16 against the Browns.

Hubbard was a surprise addition to the Bengals’ injury report. The veteran pass rusher has played in every game for the team this season and has 33 tackles and two sacks on the year. We’ll have a better sense of his Week 9 availability when Friday’s injury report is released. Wide receiver Charlie Jones (groin) and safety Geno Stone (shin) were also added to Thursday’s report and listed as limited.

Hubbard has yet to be listed with a hamstring injury this season so the announcement comes as a surprise. Hubbard is evidently expected to play through the issue but the injury-riddled defensive line is now unequivocally a defensive weak point.

After being carted off the field in Sunday’s practice, Hubbard underwent an MRI on his knee. It was determined that he avoided any serious injury, but he’ll miss at least a few days with said injury. Hubbard is coming off a six-sack season for the Bengals in 2023 and will once again work opposite Trey Hendrickson, who racked up 17.5 sacks of his own last season.

Hubbard suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s practice and received an MRI later that night. With any concerns of a major injury appearing to be behind him, the question now becomes whether or not Hubbard will miss any time with the injury. A six-year veteran of the league, Hubbard totaled six sacks last season with the Bengals and has tallied 12.5 sacks over the last two seasons. Even if he were to miss some time in camp, as long as he’s cleared for Week 1, this will all be a non-issue.

Hubbard missed Week 11 because of the knee issue but was back at practice on Wednesday and is now good to go. He has four sacks through eight games this season. Getting him back will help the Bengals compete in a low-scoring affair with Pittsburgh.

Hubbard missed all three practices last week before being ruled out. Bengals coach Zac Taylor told reporters Hubbard would likely return to practice today, so it looks like his recovery is going as planned. The veteran defensive end has four sacks and a fumble recovery in eight games this year.

Hendrickson suffered a hyperextended knee in Week 10 against the Texans. The injury appeared likely to sideline him for Week 11. Instead, Hendrickson returned to practice on Tuesday and was removed from the injury report entirely today. He may have his reps limited but expect to see Hendrickson out there for at least all of the high-leverage plays on defense. Fellow EDGE Sam Hubbard was ruled out.