Sample (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Packers, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Sample upgraded his practice participation throughout the week to gain clearance, as he went from a non-participant Wednesday to a limited participant Thursday before practicing without limitations Friday. Sample's impact in the passing game will likely remain limited, as Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant are ahead of him on the depth chart.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Upgrades to limited practice
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Sample (ankle) was limited in practice Thursday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.
Sample missed practice Wednesday, so his ability to handle limited reps bodes well for the depth tight end's chances of being cleared to suit up on the road against Green Bay on Sunday. Cincinnati's move to trade for a new starting quarterback in the form of veteran Joe Flacco could provide a spark for this passing game, but both Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant rank ahead of Sample on the depth chart, especially as pass-catching options. If Sample can upgrade to full practice reps Friday, he'll likely avoid an injury designation for Week 6.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Working through ankle injury
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Sample did not participate in Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Sample played 41 snaps (27 on offense, 14 on special teams) and logged one catch for minus-one yard during the Bengals' 37-24 loss to the Lions in Week 5. He has come out of that contest worse for wear with an ankle injury, and he'll have two more opportunities to return to practice and avoid an injury designation heading into Sunday's contest against the Packers at Lambeau Field. Tanner Hudson and Cam Grandy would be in line to step up as the TE3 behind Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant if Sample is not cleared to play against Green Bay.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: All set for Week 1
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Sample (undisclosed) did not appear on the Bengals' injury report Wednesday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Sample suffered an undisclosed injury during the preseason, but he now appears to be back to full health. The tight end will operate as a depth option behind Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant in Sunday's regular-season opener against the Browns.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Four receptions in finale
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Sample tied a season-high with four catches in Saturday's Week 18 win over the Steelers, netting just 14 yards. For the season Sample caught 20 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown across 17 games.
Sample has been a blocking-first tight end for most of his career, dating back to his college days at the University of Washington. This season falls sharply in line with his career production.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Good to go against Pittsburgh
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Sample (groin) is active for Saturday's game against the Steelers.
Sample was expected to play in Saturday's regular-season finale despite missing practice all week due to a groin injury. Sample will serve as the Bengals' No. 2 tight end behind Mike Gesicki.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Expected to play against Steelers
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Sample (groin) is listed as questionable for Saturday night's game against Pittsburgh.
Head coach Zac Taylor relayed Thursday that Sample is expected to play despite missing practice all week due to a groin injury, per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. In the five games since the Bengals' Week 12 bye, Sample has caught seven passes on as many targets for 44 yards while serving as the No. 2 tight end behind Mike Gesicki. Tanner Hudson would see an increased snap count on offense if Sample was limited in his playing time or ruled out entirely.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Leads position group in snaps Monday
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Sample was on the field for 49 of the Bengals' 71 snaps on offense and recorded two receptions for 13 yards on two targets in Monday's 27-20 win over the Cowboys.
Sample comfortably paced Bengals tight ends in playing time, logging more snaps than Mike Gesicki (20), Cam Grandy (17) and Tanner Hudson (14). While it's not out of the ordinary for Sample to lead the group in snaps, he functions primarily as a blocker when he's on the field and typically isn't as involved in the passing game compared to Gesicki and Hudson, both of whom have logged more targets, receptions and receiving yards on the season.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Two catches in Week 13 loss
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Sample recorded two receptions for eight yards on two targets in Sunday's 44-38 loss to the Steelers.
Sample's 39 snaps paced all Cincinnati tight ends, ranking ahead of Mike Gesicki (27), Tanner Hudson (12) and Cam Grandy (nine). Though he's now played more than half of Cincinnati's offensive snaps in each of the last four games, Sample brings most of his value as a blocker and isn't as involved in the passing game as Gesicki and Hudson. Sample has still managed to produce a 7-31-1 receiving line on eight targets over that four-game stretch, exceeding his combined output from the first eight weeks of the season (four catches for 28 yards and no touchdowns on five targets).
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Bengals' Drew Sample: No targets in Week 10
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Sample did not see any targets in Thursday's loss to the Ravens.
Sample had his best game of the season with four catches and a touchdown in Week 9 against Las Vegas, but he was back to being a non-factor Thursday. Meanwhile, Bengals No. 1 tight end Mike Gesicki caught four passes (on nine targets) for 30 yards against Baltimore, and Tanner Hudson notched six catches (on seven targets) for 42 yards and a touchdown. Sample did finish second among the team's tight ends with 46 offensive snaps, but with zero receptions in seven of his 10 contests this season, he can't be counted on for offensive production on a weekly basis.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Catches touchdown in win
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Sample hauled in all four of his targets for 14 yards and a touchdown during the Bengals' 41-24 win over the Raiders.
Sample was one of four different Cincinnati receivers to haul in a touchdown pass from Joe Burrow during Sunday's blowout win. He's now caught eight of his nine targets for 42 yards and a touchdown across nine games this season.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Goes without target Week 6
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Sample didn't draw a target while playing 26 of the Bengals' 53 snaps on offense in Sunday's 17-7 win over the Giants.
Though Sample paced the Bengals four active tight ends in snaps, rookie Erick All was the only member of the quartet that drew a target on the evening. Sample has handled snap shares north of 40 percent in each of Cincinnati's first four contests, but he's on the field primarily for his prowess as a blocker. He's been targeted just four times across his 169 offensive snaps on the season.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Three grabs in Week 2
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Sample secured all three of his targets for 28 yards in Sunday's 26-25 loss to the Chiefs.
Sample played 33 of the Bengals' 64 offensive snaps, splitting time with fellow tight ends Mike Gesicki and Erick All. The veteran's minimal production is to be expected with Gesicki operating as the clear top option at tight end while seeing a team-high nine targets in the contest. Going forward, Sample should not be trusted for fantasy purposes. The Bengals will host the Commanders in Week 3.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Not targeted in loss
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Sample failed to record a single target in Sunday's 16-10 loss to the Patriots.
Despite not seeing a target Sunday, Sample played the most offensive snaps (27) of any Cincinnati tight end. The Bengals found it hard to move the ball against a formidable New England defense, and the veteran tight end wasn't a factor in the passing game. Teammate Mike Gesicki was the preferred target at tight end for Joe Burrow, seeing four targets in the contest. Sample will likely continue to see an uphill battle for targets when the Bengals square off against the Chiefs in Week 2.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Lands three-year extension
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Sample has signed a three-year contract extension with the Bengals.
Per Ben Baby of ESPN.com, the deal is worth $10.5 million. Sample is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he recorded 22 catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. While the 2019 second-rounder is back in the fold, Sample's potential workload and in turn fantasy upside in 2024 hinges on what other moves the Bengals make at the tight end position in free agency and the draft.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Plays in all 17 games
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Sample played in all 17 games for the Bengals in 2023, recording 22 catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
The tight end finished the season second on the depth chart behind Tanner Hudson. Sample will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Cincinnati does not yet have any tight ends under contract for 2024.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Four targets in loss
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Sample caught three of four targets for 21 yards in Sunday's 25-17 loss to the Chiefs.
Sample saw his highest snap share of the season Sunday, playing 72 percent of the Bengals' offensive snaps. The veteran tight end caught three passes for the second-straight week, but he continued his string of modest production this season. In 16 games, Sample has recorded just 20 receptions for 156 and two touchdowns. The 27-year-old will look to stay involved and finish the season on a high note when the Bengals host the Browns in Week 18.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Three catches against Steelers
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Sample caught all three of his targets for 38 yards in Saturday's 34-11 loss to the Steelers.
Sample's three receptions tied a season-high for the veteran, while his 38 yards were the most he's gained in a single contest in 2023. The 27-year-old played 55 percent of the Bengals' offensive snaps, ahead of both Tanner Hudson (50) and Mitchell Wilcox (23). Despite his increased involvement against the Steelers, Sample should remain far off the fantasy radar heading into a Week 17 matchup against the Chiefs.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Blocking role
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Sample was targeted once on 40 offensive snaps in Saturday's overtime win over the Vikings.
Frequently Sample lined up in the backfield to help pick up the numerous blitzes from the Vikings' Brian Flores-designed defense. He hasn't had more than two targets in a game since Week 10.
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Bengals' Drew Sample: Minimal involvement in loss
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Sample secured his only target for minus-one yard in Sunday's 27-3 loss to the Titans.
Sample was a nonfactor Sunday, seeing just one target for the second straight week. The veteran's 17 offensive snaps were the third-most among tight ends, with both Tanner Hudson and Mitchell Wilcox handling more snaps in the contest. Top tight end Irv Smith was ruled out for Week 4 with a hamstring injury, but Sample remained an afterthought in the Bengals' struggling offense. The 27-year-old should be left out of fantasy lineups going into a Week 5 matchup with the Cardinals.
