Tyler Eifert to miss Denver Broncos game
By John Buhler
Tyler Eifert will not play in the Cincinnati Bengals’ Week 16 matchup versus the Denver Broncos, as he remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
According to NFL media’s Rand Getlin, the Cincinnati Bengals will not have their superstar tight end Tyler Eifert for their Week 16 matchup versus the Denver Broncos.
Eifert sustained a concussion in the Bengals’ loss in Week 14 to their AFC North rival in Pittsburgh Steelers on a hit from safety Mike Mitchell. Eifert did not play in Week 15’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers and may not play again until the AFC Playoffs are underway.
The Bengals are 11-3 and have a great opportunity to clinch a first-round bye in the AFC Playoffs should they knock off Denver on Monday Night Football. However, it seems that head coach Marvin Lewis would prefer to have his team healthy for their first playoff game, likely coming in the Divisional Round. Cincinnati will go against a quarterback in Brock Osweiler whose offense hasn’t scored a second half point in three weeks.
While it is in Cincinnati’s best interest to sit their starting wide receiver, this decision does have a significant implications with regards to fantasy football playoffs. Eifert has been one of the best tight ends in football in 2015 in a league that is having a down year at the position.
Scavenging the waiver wire for a suitable replacement for Eifert seems trying this late in the season. With Cincinnati starting a backup quarterback in A.J. McCarron, maybe offensive coordinator Hue Jackson’s conservative play calling may offer some easy passes to Eifert’s replacement at tight end in Tyler Kroft.
Since Eifert missed Week 15 with a concussion, one could assume that he has already been replaced on a championship fantasy roster. Though Cincinnati does have a huge game on Monday Night Football, it is better for the Bengals to enter the AFC Playoffs at full strength. Cincinnati has not won a playoff game since 1988, the longest such streak in the NFL.