Earlier Monday, Mr. Florio said that the Bengals feared starting tight end Reggie Kelly would be lost for the season.
Their fears were realized, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Kelly will undergo surgery on Wednesday for a ruptured Achilles tendon. The recovery time is six months, which should knock him out for the season.
While he’s hardly a big name, the Bengals have come to depend on Kelly over the years for his blocking, especially in the running game.
Ben Utecht and rookie Chase Coffman should both get on the field more, but they are known as catch-first tight ends.
Kelly’s absence will also make life more difficult for Andre Smith, who will transition to the right side when he shows up to camp.