Who Should I Start? Tanner Hudson or Joe Royer

Monday, October 19, 3:57 PM

The Cincinnati Bengals officially placed tight end Tanner Hudson (pectoral) on Injured Reserve on Monday with a pectoral injury that he suffered in the Week 5 win over the Miami Dolphins, according to the team's official website. Hudson will now be forced to miss at least the next four games, starting with Cincy's Week 7 contest this Sunday against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. In four games so far in 2026, Hudson was not on the fantasy football radar with only seven catches (on seven targets) for 33 yards and one touchdown. The 31-year-old veteran's pectoral injury will open up more playing time for Drew Sample behind starting tight end Mike Gesicki moving forward, although Sample should remain on the waiver wire in all leagues. Hudson has never been a high-end pass-catcher at the position, and he has accumulated 99 catches for 906 yards and only five touchdowns in 75 regular-season games played (four starts) in his seven-plus NFL seasons. Hudson is in his fourth year with the Bengals.