How Bengals' Erick All Jr. is a threat to Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample on TE depth chart

Erick All Jr. is a name that all but the most loyal of Cincinnati Bengals fans may have forgotten about.

If things break All's way in 2026, he'll be a well-known name by the end of the season.

In a new article on Wednesday, ESPN's Ben Solak picked All as his choice to break out for the Bengals this season.

It's a fascinating pick, because there's still so much unknown about All. He hasn't been particularly healthy.

But apparently, Solak believes in All, in part because he thinks the Bengals really still believe in the young tight end.

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Can Erick All Jr. start at TE for Bengals?

Solak actually thinks All can lead the tight end room in Cincinnati.

"If he's healthy, I expect him to lead the TE room in snaps and spring some big plays," Solak writes.

Solak isn't just spitballing, though. This is some of his logic:

All, the Bengals' fourth-round pick in 2024, didn't play a snap in 2025. After just 231 snaps as a rookie, he tore his right ACL in Week 9 and spent the entire 2025 season rehabbing (he had torn the same ACL in college, and complications from that surgery lengthened his recovery time).

For many players, such a prolonged unavailability would jeopardize their snaps. But All is so beloved by the Bengals' staff -- said coach Zac Taylor: "With the word physical in the dictionary is a picture of Erick All, trying to put his face through somebody's soul." -- that he remains a candidate to start. All outsnapped incumbent Mike Gesicki in five of the nine games he played as a rookie and brings a much-needed blocking dimension to Cincinnati's rushing attack.

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Yes, there's risk because of the injuries.

There's also mystery because of his lack of availability.

But when you put it all together, All still has a chance to be an impact performer in Cincinnati.

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