The Bengals are heading into Sunday’s AFC North matchup in Pittsburgh without another piece of their passing game. Andrei Iosivas has been placed on injured reserve after tearing a ligament in his thumb, a setback Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor confirmed during Wednesday’s press conference.
Taylor said Iosivas had surgery Wednesday morning. There’s no exact return date yet, but ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the 26-year-old is expected to miss four to six weeks.
That puts Cincinnati in a tricky spot early in the 2026 season, but Taylor made it clear the offense plans to keep moving. The Bengals are set to face the Steelers, Jaguars, Dolphins and Ravens over the next month, and the coach said the team has enough pieces to absorb the loss.
"Several guys can step up, whether it's in the receiver room, tight end room. There are a lot of ways we're gonna have to fill that," Taylor said.
"We have guys that will step up. They're gonna be given more opportunities.
We expect those guys to step up and fill those shoes."
One possible adjustment, as The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. noted, is a heavier dose of multi-tight end looks while Iosivas is sidelined. Even with that wrinkle, the Bengals will still lean on Joe Burrow’s top targets, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, to carry the passing attack.
Iosivas had been productive in 2025, finishing with 33 catches for 435 yards and two touchdowns. His career numbers show a steady role since entering the league: 15 catches for 116 yards and four scores in 2023, 36 receptions for 479 yards and six touchdowns in 2024, and 33 catches for 435 yards and two touchdowns last season. In 2026, he has three receptions for 19 yards in two games.
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