Andrei Iosivas didn't leave a particularly big mark in either of the Cincinnati Bengals' first two games in 2026, but he has the ability to affect the flow of the offense.
Iosivas can act as a pressure release in the Bengals offense if and when the team's top receivers, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, aren't available or aren't open. Iosivas' statistics over the last three seasons prove that − even though his 2026 season started with just three catches for 19 yards through two games.
The Bengals won't have Iosivas again until around midseason at the earliest. He was placed on injured reserve for a ligament tear in his thumb that required surgery Sept. 23, meaning Iosivas will miss at least four games. Iosivas was injured on a special teams play
as a so-called "gunner."
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said the situation isn't expected to end Iosivas' season. Taylor also said he was confident the Bengals could shuffle personnel around to compensate for the loss.
Who steps up to fill the Iosivas role remains to be seen. There are several options.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said the team would attempt to fill in for Iosivas with a committee.
"Andrei did a lot for us in the run game. He was a dependable, really good third receiver, so you can't really replace him with one guy," Burrow said.
The pool of possible stand-ins includes receivers Dohnte Meyers, Colbie Young and Ke'Shawn Williams, all of whom could also be asked to support special teams.
The Bengals' array of tight ends could also serve as targets in the passing game. That includes Mike Gesicki, Erick All Jr., Drew Sample, Jack Endries and even Tanner Hudson, who could be called up from the practice squad.
Meyers, the Canadian Football League veteran who is listed on the Bengals depth chart as backup to Iosivas, has one reception for 18 yards on the season and has added value as a speedy, elusive kick and punt returner. He returned the opening kickoff against the Houston Texans 40 yards, and had space for more prior to appearing to trip. Young has one reception (against Houston) for 7 yards, and Williams was inactive on Sept. 20 for the game against Houston and has no receptions this season.
"Honestly, I feel like that's something that the coaches kind of handle," Meyers said. "I try to stay the same whether I get one snap or 60 snaps, and I just try to be as prepared as possible. If that's something that they call on me to do some things different this week, I'm for it, regardless of what it looks like."
Hudson's NFL career started in 2019.
"First of all, all love goes to Andrei. Nobody wants that to happen," Hudson said. "I think I've always been a guy that has tried to take advantage of any opportunity I get. If this is something where I have to step up in a role that coaches need me in, then that's what I'm gonna do.
"Even on practice squad, I try to come in with that mentality. Whatever they need of me, whatever they ask, I'm going to do my best to execute that."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why the Bengals might need multiple players to fill in for Andrei Iosivas
