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Ben Baby, ESPN Staff WriterDec 16, 2024, 02:14 PM ET
- Ben Baby covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN. He joined the company in July 2019. Prior to ESPN, he worked for various newspapers in Texas, most recently at The Dallas Morning News where he covered college sports. He provides daily coverage of the Bengals for ESPN.com, while making appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN’s NFL shows and ESPN Radio programs. A native of Grapevine, Texas, he graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He is an adjunct journalism professor at Southern Methodist University and a member of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard suffered a torn PCL injury Sunday, he told reporters Monday.
In the locker room Monday, Hubbard wore a protective brace on his right leg but said he did not believe the injury to his right knee would require surgery.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said there’s a chance it could be a season-ending injury but did not want to state that definitely during his news conference Monday afternoon.
Hubbard sustained the injury on his first career reception — a 2-yard touchdown catch in the first half of the Bengals’ 37-27 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
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It was the first receiving touchdown by a Bengals defensive player in the history of the franchise.
Hubbard has battled hamstring and pinkie injuries this season and yet didn’t miss any games. Taylor said Hubbard still wanted to play after he suffered the injury Sunday but had to be shut down by the team’s medical staff.
“A guy I’ve leaned on every second I’ve been here,” Taylor said. “Always practices the right way, works the right way, leads the right way. Sets the tone for the whole team. “We got the news on the sidelines and his gut instinct was, ‘I don’t care, I’m playing.'”
Hubbard is the longest-tenured player on the Bengals’ roster. He is the only player on the roster who predates the arrival of Taylor, who was hired in 2019.
Hubbard has 25 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble this season for the Bengals (6-8), who are mathematically alive for the postseason but are behind three other teams for the seventh and final AFC wild-card spot.
