Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor revealed during his Monday press conference that defensive end Cam Sample suffered a torn Achilles tendon and is out for the season. Taylor called it a “huge loss” to the Bengals’ defensive line.
“That was unfortunate. Cam’s been a huge part of our team, played a lot of different roles, been awesome in the locker room,” Taylor said. “We’ll obviously support him in his recovery. Plan on him being around. Surgery not been determined yet — when, where, who. Unfortunate for him and the team because he was a big part of it.”
According to WKRC-TV in Cincinnati, Sample was carted off the field to the locker room and was seen soon after on a walking scooter with his left leg bent forward at the knee.
Sample, a fourth-round selection out of Tulane in 2021 by the Bengals, has served as a rotational defensive end for Cincinnati. In three season, he has recorded 68 tackles and five sacks in 47 games, three of which were starts. Sample had seven tackles and a sack in six playoff games.
Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard are the Bengals’ bookend defensive ends, but Sample was a solid depth piece. Joseph Ossai, Jeff Gunter and 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy will have to step up in his absence.
Sample was getting first-team reps with Hendrickson (chest bruise) and Hubbard (left knee) out due to injuries, which are both categorized as week-to-week.
“Consistent player and consistent person,” Taylor said when asked what stood out about Sample. “He’s a top notch human being, effects everybody the right way. He’s always embraced his role and kind of been a, ‘whatever I can do to help the team win,’ type of guy since we drafted him. I can remember watching him at the Senior Bowl, watching his Tulane tape. We were so excited to have him once we got him in the draft. He’s been what we hoped. Played a lot of different roles for us in a lot of different defensive looks. Played some huge games for us and been big part of what we’ve achieved as a team.”
This season, the Pittsburgh Steelers play at Cincinnati in Week 13 and host the Bengals in Week 18. The Steelers swept the Bengals last season, but star quarterback Joe Burrow (right wrist) was out for both contests.