The Cincinnati Bengals placed tight end Mike Gesicki on injured reserve Wednesday with a pectoral injury.
Gesicki was injured on the team’s first drive in the 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers, coach Zac Taylor said Monday.
Fellow tight end Tanner Hudson replaced Gesicki and caught four passes for 10 yards and a touchdown but was in the concussion protocol.
Tight ends Noah Fant, Drew Sample and Cam Grandy likely are in for larger roles with a quick turnaround before the Bengals (2-4) host the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) on Thursday night.
Gesicki, 30, has eight receptions for 61 yards in six games (one start) this season. He has 333 catches for 3,587 yards and 22 touchdowns in 121 career games (45 starts) with the Miami Dolphins (2018-22), New England Patriots (2023) and Bengals.
Sunday’s catches were the first of the season for Hudson in five games.
Hudson, 30, has 77 career receptions for 715 yards and three scores in 61 games (two starts) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019-20), San Francisco 49ers (2021), New York Giants (2022) and Bengals.
