How good of a year can Irv Smith Jr. have? Bengals Thursday morning briefing
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CINCINNATI, Ohio — Irv Smith Jr. might be the most unknown part of the 2023 Bengals’ offseason.
Checking in at No. 22 on our Top 25 Bengals for 2023 list, Smith is joining the team after four years, and three seasons, with the Vikings. And his numbers, just on first glance, aren’t very inspiring.
He’s posted a career-best 36 catches (in 2019), 365 yards (in 2020) and five touchdowns (in 2020). Last year, he played in just eight games due to injury and had 25 catches for 182 yards and two scores.
But the Bengals were one of the best opportunities that Smith could have found, as he’ll join a remarkably explosive offense that needs a No. 1 tight end. It was an offense that Hayden Hurst thrived in a year ago, as he had 52 catches and 414 catches in 13 games played.
If Smith can tap into his athleticism, and stay healthy, the Bengals might have a player that can give them something they didn’t have much of last year — a down-the-seam vertical threat. And if Hurst’s season was any indication, 55 catches for 500 yards could get Smith paid handsomely next spring.
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Andrew Gillis covers the Bengals for cleveland.com. Follow him on Twitter @Andrew_Gillis70 for the latest updates and see all his coverage at StrictlyStripes.com.
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