Chiefs vs. Bengals: Hayden Hurst’s injury complicates things for Cincinnati

The Kansas City Chiefs might have caught a break with the Cincinnati Bengals adding tight end Hayden Hurst to their injury report Thursday.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals are playing Sunday with a trip to Super Bowl LVII on the line. Fans and media alike are talking about the game’s importance for these two franchises and the legacies of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. All this talk of history, which quarterback is better, and more can make you forget that there is still a game to be played. The two teams want to be at full strength for that game, and the Bengals may be without starting tight end Hayden Hurst.

The Bengals listed Hurst on their injury report Thursday. He was limited in practice due to a calf injury. He was not listed on the injury report on Wednesday, making his appearance on Thursday a surprise to Bengals fans. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport described the injury as “an injury to watch” ahead of the AFC Championship.

Hurst was reliable in 2022, outside of missing three games with a calf injury in December. No reports have confirmed if Hurst’s calf injury now is the same as or related to his previous injury. Oddly enough, he suffered his first calf injury against the Chiefs in Week 13. Hurst exited that game early, but he already had two catches for 12 receiving yards on three targets.

Hurst’s ability to play on Sunday is important for the Bengals’ game plan. Injuries along the Bengals’ offensive line have taken center stage, with Cincinnati missing two starting offensive linemen at practice Thursday. If offensive tackle Max Scharping has to start against the Chiefs, the Bengals could certainly use Hurst’s help on the left side.

Hurst isn’t the receiving threat that Travis Kelce is, but he’s a reliable target who can move the sticks. Hurst has 61 receptions in 2022, and 31 have reset the chains for Cincinnati. Considering Kansas City’s below-average coverage against tight ends, Cincinnati would likely lean on a healthy Hurst.

In 13 games, Hurst caught 52 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns during his debut season in Cincinnati. He has caught nine passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in Cincinnati’s two postseason games. If Hurst plays against the Chiefs, Kansas City’s linebacker corps will be tasked with shutting down Hurst over the middle.

Keep an eye on Cincinnati’s injury report on Friday and see if Hurst has improved or remains limited. Either way, Rapoport’s “watch” on Hurst’s injury is deserved as the AFC Championship game approaches.