Cincinnati Bengals: In the absence of its star receivers, the Bengals must rely on an 8-year veteran.
The Cincinnati Bengals could be without their two-star wide receivers for Week 10 against the Houston Texans. Cincinnati officially ruled out Tee Higgins with a hamstring injury. Ja’Marr Chase is questionable with a back injury. The Bengals will have to rely on eight-year receiver Tyler Boyd.
The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Boyd in 2016.
Cincinnati drafted Tyler Boyd in the 2nd round, 55th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Boyd was the number three receiver behind A.J. Green and Brandon LaFell in his rookie season. He had 54 receptions for 603 yards and one touchdown.
Boyd appeared in ten games in his second season. He missed Week 2 and 14 due to a coaches’ decision and missed Weeks 6-9 with a knee sprain. Boyd had 22 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns, representing 47% of offensive snaps.
Boyd broke out in his third season with 76 receptions for 1,028 yards and seven touchdowns. He led the team in receiving due to the injury to A.J. Green. Boyd suffered an MCL sprain in Week 15 and missed the rest of the season.
Boyd signed a contract extension before the 2019 season.
The Bengals signed Boyd to a 4-year, $43 million contract extension, keeping him under contract through the 2023 season.
Boyd led the team in receiving for the second straight year in 2019. Boyd had 90 receptions for 1,046 yards and five touchdowns. A.J. Green missed the entire season because of a torn ligament in his ankle. Cincinnati drafted Tee Higgins in the second round of the 2020 draft.
Tee Higgins took over as the number-one receiver during the 2020 season. Boyd was second with 79 receptions for 841 yards and four touchdowns. Cincinnati drafted Ja’Marr Chase in the first round of the 2021 draft.
Since the Bengals drafted Ja’Marr Chase in 2021 and Tee Higgins in 2020, Tyler Boyd wasn’t the number-one receiver anymore but the number-three. Boyd had 67 receptions for 828 yards and five touchdowns during the 2022 season. Boyd had a crucial drop in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 56 against the Los Angeles Rams, his first drop of the season.
Boyd dealt with a finger and a thigh injury in 2022.
Boyd suffered a dislocated finger in Week 14 against the Cleveland Browns but didn’t miss any games. He was the third leading receiver for the second straight season in 2022, with 58 receptions for 762 yards and five touchdowns. Boyd left the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a deep thigh bruise.
Boyd has 36 receptions for 300 yards and two touchdowns so far. Expect Joe Burrow to target Tyler Boyd more with Tee Higgins and possibly Ja’Marr Chase out in Week 10.
Boyd is a solid receiver who isn’t washed but happens to be the third talented wide receiver on the team. Many teams should be interested in Tyler Boyd during the 2024 offseason.
