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Report: Bengals willing to part with Jermaine Gresham prior to NFL Trade Deadline

Take this with a grain of salt, as trading Jermaine Gresham would leave the Bengals with Kevin Brock as the starting TE for 1-2 games with Eifert not being able to return for three more weeks.

By Jason Marcum and Josh Kirkendall
John Grieshop

Appearing live on NFL Network Gameday Morning, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport said that the Bengals are willing to part ways with tight end Jermaine Gresham as Tyler Eifert is set to return from Injured Reserve with a designation to return. Rapoport mentioned that Eifert's eventual return could signify that the Bengals are ready to replace Gresham, who's playing on the final year of his contract.

"They already have Eifert coming off an injury", said Rapoport. "It seems they've already replaced him (Gresham). He could be had too." Seattle, who tried obtaining Jordan Cameron from Cleveland and Julius Thomas from Denver via Percy Harvin trade, seems like a logical spot based on reports this weekend. Right?

Through five games this year, Gresham has posted only 14 receptions for 129 yards and no touchdowns. At the pace that he's on, Gresham will fail to reach 50 receptions or 500 yards receiving for a second consecutive season. Last week, against the Carolina Panthers, Gresham hauled in a season-high six passes... which is actually the most receptions that he's had in a game since week two in 2013. And his 68 yards receiving against Carolina was the most since week 10 in 2012.

The NFL trade deadline is 4 p.m. (ET) on Oct. 28. Even if the Bengals make a trade, Cincinnati will be left with Ryan Hewitt and Kevin Brock as their only tight ends until Eifert returns. That's at least one game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and more if Eifert isn't ready.

The second-year tight end from Notre Dame dislocated his elbow against the Baltimore Ravens and was placed on the team's Injured Reserve list with a designation to return. He's eligible to play his first game on Nov. 6 when the Bengals host the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football.

Adding to that report, Rapoport said the Bills were interested in dealing running back C.J. Spiller, and the Dallas Cowboys may be interested.

He also mentioned Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson as someone that teams are calling about.

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