A standout player for the Cincinnati Bengals suffered a PCL injury on Sunday, which is anticipated to end his season, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
He scored an offensive touchdown during the Bengals’ 37-27 win against the Tennessee Titans. The injury occurred to his right knee while he was making a two-yard touchdown catch, which was also his first reception in the NFL.
“They warned me it would be a contested catch; I knew someone would be on me,” he explained. “I approached the line and chatted with the tackle about a potential fake block. I tried to free myself as much as I could, and Joe threw me a great pass, which made it really enjoyable.”
His touchdown reception tied the game at 14, but he was soon ruled out after that impactful play. He is the longest-tenured player on the team and serves as the Bengals’ starting defensive end.
“Of course, I’m disappointed with how that play turned out for him physically, but I’m glad he could go out and contribute to the team,” head coach Zac Taylor stated. “You had to find the right moment to utilize him this season and give him that opportunity. With two linebackers leaving the game, they were using backups, so we thought it was an ideal time to catch them off guard. Unfortunately, they covered it well, but Sam made an incredible catch.”
Hubbard noted that he landed awkwardly while making the catch, but he didn’t elaborate on the injury after the game. However, quarterback Joe Burrow spoke highly of Hubbard’s performance.
“That was an impressive play by him,” Burrow remarked. “He could have easily been a tight end if he had chosen that path. I trusted Sam to make that catch. He has great hands. It was a fourth-down situation, which is why we decided to go for it.”
Hubbard’s touchdown marked the first receiving score by a defensive player in the franchise’s history. Additionally, he had been managing a hamstring injury throughout the season prior to the PCL injury.
This season, Hubbard has started all 14 games for the Bengals, recording 24 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble. With a year remaining on his four-year, $ 40 million contract signed in July 2021, he is expected to remain with the team for another season.
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