Tag: Mike Gesicki

Jonnu Smith sets 2 Dolphins records in one drive

Jonnu Smith is having the best season any Dolphins tight end has ever had and he made that official in one drive Sunday against the 49ers.

Jonnu Smith is officially having the best season any tight end has ever had with the Miami Dolphins.

With a 22-yard reception in the third quarter Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, Smith set a single-season franchise record for a tight end. The reception was his 74th of the year, eclipsing the previous record of 73 that was set by Randy McMichael in 2004 and tied by Mike Gesicki in 2021.

Two plays later, Smith caught his 75th pass for a gain of nine that moved him to 797 yards on the year, surpassing McMichael’s record of 791 yards that was also set in 2004.

All that’s left is one more franchise record for touchdowns in a season, which is very much in reach too. Smith entered Week 16 with five touchdown grabs, two behind Keith Jackson’s record of seven, which was set in 1994.

There’s a caveat to these records, though. During the team’s early seasons in the American Football League, it had some prolific numbers put up by players listed at the “left end” position rather than wide receiver or tight end. Jack Clancy racked up 868 yards from the “LE” spot in 1967 and Karl Noonan had 11 touchdowns at that spot in 1968.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Bengals TE Mike Gesicki ‘open to coming back’

Should the Bengals bring back Mike Gesicki this offseason?

Is the revolving door at tight end about to shut for the Cincinnati Bengals?

When the Bengals signed Mike Gesicki in free agency last offseason, there was hope that he could be the last veteran who sticks around for the short-term before going on to bigger contracts elsewhere.

Fast forward to now, Gesicki has 42 catches for 460 yards and two touchdowns as a key part of the offense.

And he’s “open to coming back,” according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.

“If that would be the narrative, sure,” Gesicki said, per Hobson. “For me, I’ve been the same player putting in the same work, putting in the same time. I just haven’t had the ball come my way the last couple of years. I’ve been targeted a little more and I don’t take it for granted. I wish we could have changed the end of some games, but I come in every day with a smile on my face. For the opportunities that are presented, it’s really enjoyable.”

Gesicki isn’t playing a huge snap count by any means, but we’re talking about an offense with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Yet his impact has been felt, and it’s not a small feat to sit third on the team in receiving at 11 yards per catch.

The Bengals seem to really like prospects like Cam Grandy and
Tanner McLachlan on the back end of the depth chart, but if the price is right for both parties, it’s easy to see the Bengals bringing back Gesicki, too.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Bengals must use Mike Gesicki more to save season, says NFL analyst

Joe Burrow needs to get Mike Gesicki more involved in Week 11 vs. Chargers.

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki has quietly worked his way back into a solid role on offense following the injuries to WR Tee Higgins and rookie TE Erick All.

Over the last three weeks, Gesicki has totaled 23 targets and has caught 16 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns (both in Week 9). Before this stretch, Gesicki had seen more than five targets just once in the previous four weeks.

Higgins will likely return this week against the Chargers, but Gesicki should remain a constant in the Bengals’ offense. That’s at least the thought from the scouting department over at Bleacher Report.

B/R recently named a roster weakness for each team and named one more each team has to do now. In this case, it’s keeping Gesicki on the field as the Bengals look to still make a playoff push at 4-6, just one game behind the 5-5 Denver Broncos:

With Tee Higgins out for another game, Mike Gesicki saw a huge uptick in playing time and role in the passing game. According to PFF, the tight end was on the field for 58 snaps, ran 45 routes and saw nine targets.

He only turned it into four catches for 30 yards, but that would ignore the fact that he turned 14 targets into 12 catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns in the previous two weeks.

Gesicki has proven that he is one of the Bengals most dynamic receivers even when Tee Higgins returns to the lineup. He might not bring a lot of blocking to the table, but he should continue to be on the field for the majority of the pass plays.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

5 Bengals players to watch in Week 11 vs. Chargers

Despite their under-.500 record, the Bengals are still littered with talent all over the field, particularly on offense.

It’s been a difficult season for the Cincinnati Bengals, who sit at 4-6 after another heartbreaking loss in Week 10. Don’t let the record fool you though, this is still a dangerous football team, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.

It may be the biggest challenge of the year for Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Another loss and the Bengals may lose any hope of sneaking into the postseason. Here are some players from the Bengals that the Chargers must keep an eye on this upcoming weekend:

WR Ja’Marr Chase

Let’s start with the best player on the field. Chase is one of the best wideouts in all of football, and he’s been exceptional in 2024. Heading into Week 11, he leads the NFL in catches (66), receiving yards (981), and receiving touchdowns (10). While the team’s record isn’t what they expected it to be, Chase has been nothing short of phenomenal.

TE Mike Gesicki

Gesicki has turned into an underrated signing for Cincinnati. In 10 contests, his 383 receiving yards ranks eighth amongst tight ends. With Tee Higgins out due to injury recently, Gesicki has turned into a nice secondary option in the passing game. The former Penn State product is second on the team in receiving yards behind Chase. He has 16 catches, 203 receiving yards, and two touchdowns over the last three games.

OT Orlando Brown

Brown signed a massive $64 million deal back in 2023, and it’s come with mixed results thus far. He’s been solid for the Bengals, but not quite worth that kind of money. The trenches will be a deciding factor in this weekend’s game, and that starts with Brown against the Chargers’ stellar pass rushers. Los Angeles tied for fourth in the NFL in sacks (31), so this will be a huge matchup to watch.

EDGE Trey Hendrickson

Hendrickson continues to fly under the radar around the NFL. He’s been a monster this season, as he leads the league in sacks (11.0) and is a frontrunner for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Hendrickson has added in 28 total tackles, three pass deflections, and a forced fumble. The Chargers have two legitimate offensive tackles, but they will be put to the test against this front.

CB Mike Hilton

Hilton is one of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL, and he’s proved that again in 2024. His matchup against Ladd McConkey will be a deciding factor in this AFC matchup. Hilton always plays a physical brand of football and is known for being an exceptional blitzer as well.

Mike Gesicki injury update: Latest news on Cincinnati Bengals TE

Mike Gesicki popped up on the Bengals injury report before Week 6.

The Cincinnati Bengals injury report featuring names like Zack Moss before the team takes on the New York Giants in Week 6 wasn’t a surprise.

Tight end Mike Gesicki’s name on the injury report, though, was.

According to the injury report, Gesicki didn’t practice on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury.

The status might have been the Bengals taking extra precaution with a key piece of the offense, especially with how hamstring injuries have held back names like Sheldon Rankins to start the season.

Going into Week 6, Gesicki ranked third in receiving on the Bengals with 17 catches for 178 yards, converting nine first downs on those grabs. He’s been in a rotation, though, playing just 42 percent of the offense’s snaps this year.

If Gesicki can’t go, Drew Sample could see a slight uptick in target share despite his blocking-first playstyle.

Rookie Erick All Jr., who forced his way into two-tight-end sets over the summer, would likely receive the biggest bump in attention from Joe Burrow.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Ravens vs. Bengals: Top photos from Baltimore’s 41-38 win in overtime at Paycor Stadium

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 41-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime at Paycor Stadium in Week 5

Lamar Jackson and company rallied from a late fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime with a 56-yard field goal from Justin Tucker. In overtime, the Bengals recovered a Jackson fumble but could not win it after Evan McPherson missed a 56-yard field goal of his win.

At one point in the fourth quarter, Joe Burrow was 27-for-34 for 353 yards and five touchdown passes, while former college teammate Ja’Marr Chase had nine catches for 174 yards and two scores.

Burrow finished 30-39 passing for 392 yards, five touchdowns, and one costly interception. His MVP counterpart, Lamar Jackson, was 26-42 passing for 348 yards and four touchdowns. Jackson also had 12 carries for 56 yards on the day.

***

Joe Burrow dominates early, but Ravens rally for a 41-38 win over Bengals in overtime

Joe Burrow dominates early, but Ravens rally for a 41-38 win over Bengals in overtime

After a week of pundits and experts questioning Joe Burrow’s demise, the former LSU star put the NFL back on notice with a dominant, five-touchdown performance against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium.

Still, it wasn’t enough, as Lamar Jackson and company rallied from a late fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime with a 56-yard field goal from Justin Tucker. In overtime, the Bengals recovered a Lamar Jackosn fumble but were unable to win it after Evan McPherson missed a 56-yard field goal of his win.

Baltimore used a big Derrick Henry run to get into field goal position, and Justin Tucker’s 24 field goals gave the Ravens their third straight win.

At one point in the fourth quarter, Burrow was 27-for-34 for 353 yards and five touchdown passes, while former college teammate Ja’Marr Chase had nine catches for 174 yards and two scores against a Ravens secondary full of first-round picks and high-paid defenders.

Burrow finished 30-39 passing for 392 yards, five touchdowns, and one costly interception. His MVP counterpart, Lamar Jackson, was 26-42 passing for 348 yards and four touchdowns. Jackson also had 12 carries for 56 yards on the day.

After a slow start, Derrick Henry finished things with a bang, rushing for 91 yards on 15 carries, with one rushing touchdown.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

NFL fines Panthers player for hit on Bengals TE Mike Gesicki

Bengals TE Mike Gesicki took at hit that got a Panthers player fined by the NFL.

The Cincinnati Bengals have been involved in lots of interesting NFL fines news early this season.

There was that massive fine thrown at wideout Ja’Marr Chase. And the NFL has already admitted its mistake with the Andrei Iosivas fine.

Bengals opponents, though, are getting fined too.

According to ESPN’s Ben Baby, Carolina Panthers safety Xavier Woods received a $11,255 fine letter for a late hit on Mike Gesicki during the Week 4 encounter between the teams.

Bengals fans will remember that one — Gesicki caught a quick-hitter from Joe Burrow, then went backward for roughly five yards before being tossed out of bounds.

As Baby notes, officials initially threw a flag on the play, then picked it up.

As has been the case with many fines this year, the NFL’s league offices keep seeing things differently than officials on the field in real-time, as fines keep coming down for unflagged plays.

The Bengals picked up their first win of the season in Carolina over Woods’ Panthers, 34-24.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Best photos of Penn State in the NFL, Week 1

Saquon Barkley put on a show in his debut with the Eagles. Other Penn State alums shined as well.

The NFL is back in session with Week 1 officially in the books at the next level. And it was a grand debut for former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley wiht his new team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Barley scored three touchdowns in his Eagles debut to help lead his new team to a victory over the Green Bay Packers in Brazil on Friday night.

Barkley lit up social media with his performance by becoming just the second player in franchise history to score three touchdowns in his Eagles debut. Barkley joined Terrell Owens in owning that distinction. In his entire time with the New York Giants, Barkley had two games in which he scored three touchdowns. It is safe to say things are off to a great start for Barkley in his new home.

Other former Nittany Lions were busy in action as the NFL got the year started off. Here are some of the best photos of former Nittany Lions around the NFL’s opening weekend.

Former Penn State player signs massive NFL contract extension

Pat Freiermuth remains a big part of the Steelers’ plans.

Throughout [autotag]Pat Freiermuth[/autotag]’s time with Penn State, just about everyone inside and outside the program knew he would be continuing his career at the professional ranks in the National Football League.

Coming in as a four-star recruit, he had massive shoes to fill after [autotag]Mike Gesicki[/autotag] left for the NFL after the 2017 season and had become one of the most prolific tight ends in Penn State’s history.

Freiermuth was able to step in and immediately produce, putting up 368 yards and eight touchdowns on 26 receptions in his true freshman year. By the time he turned professional ahead of the 2021 draft, the Massachusetts native set the all-time record for receiving touchdowns by a tight end (16) and had the third-most receiving yards by a Nittany Lions tight end (1,185).

One could only wonder what numbers he would have put up if he hadn’t been reduced to four games in the 2020 season because of an injury, but his body of work was enough to garner massive interest by NFL teams.

That resulted in him being selected in the second round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, keeping him in Pennsylvania with another legendary football operation.

Freiermuth was able to play with future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in his rookie year, catching 60 balls for 497 yards and seven scores.

And even though some of his production has dropped off a bit the past two seasons with totals of 1,040 yards and just four touchdowns, the Steelers think highly enough of him to lock him up with a lucrative contract extension.

ESPN reported he agreed to a four-year, $48.4 million extension to keep him in Pittsburgh during his prime seasons.

He could be inline for a monster year with the Steelers hiring offensive coordinator Arthur Smith who heavily features tight ends in his scheme, setting up perfectly for Freiermuth to be both a blocker and productive pass catcher.

[lawrence-related id=16810]

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads.