Cincinnati Bengals: Can Tyler Eifert Be ‘Iron Man’ Against The Steelers?

This year, it seems all of the Cincinnati Bengals have developed tough skin. They have a new attitude and fresh mindset. The Bengals have two key weapons that have returned. Marvin Jones is back from a foot injury and Tyler Eifert is back from a season-ending dislocated right elbow. He’s back and he’s suddenly acquiring the label of “Iron Man.”

The Cincinnati Bengals have weapons of mass destruction.

They are loaded with an arsenal of players that can come at a defense from any position. In fact, most analysts will tell you that they’re extremely dangerous at every position, due to their depth. As Rex Ryan stated in The Buffalo News, the Bengals can beat you from anywhere.

“That team is difficult. You take away this guy, take away that guy, and this other dude beats you. So it is kind of what happened… other than that I mean it was tough sledding. We knew it was going to be tough. That is about, you know, about as good as an offense you can play in this league.”

Eifert’s return has given the Bengals something they haven’t had in a long time: a tight end that can stretch the field. His ability to block, run pass routes, and catch the deep-ball from Andy Dalton has made defensive coordinators pay closer attention. Eifert has shaken the tag as a fragile player prone to injury and started 2015 as a legitimate contender for his first Pro Bowl.

Eifert suffered the ire and jeers of Bengals fans through his first two seasons. His frustration was similar to that of this year’s AFC October Player of The Month Andy Dalton. The potential was there, but it was being hindered by so many other things.

Since coming back from the injury and turning into one of the Bengals’ key weapons – a developing cog in an offense that will only get better – Eifert has become one of Dalton’s most trusted targets. The doubts and groans have been replaced with accolades and high-fives.

“Oh, now I’m an iron man?” Eifert said, laughing at a reporter’s question about his high snap count this season. “It’s just funny you would say that because I was ‘injury prone’ last year. Now I’m an iron man. But I’m just trying to take it one game at a time, stay healthy, help us win and good things will happen.”

The Bengals will need Eifert to be Iron Man Sunday, when they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The rest of the league has taken notice of the player Bengals fans refer to as Gronk 2.0. The Steelers have noticed him as well. It’s no secret that the Black and Yellow have had a tough time covering tight ends. Rob Gronkowski burned the Steelers for 94 yards and three touchdowns. Antonio Gates helped out the Bolts with 92 yards and two scores. A healthy Eifert, in Iron Man mode, could do the same.

Mike Tomlin isn’t asleep on the Bengals’ tight end. He was full of praise and caution as he talked about Eifert, during his weekly press conference, found on the Steelers website.

“Tyler Eifert is their talented and young tight end,” Tomlin started. “He is a big component of their offense and their success this year. He is building a great rapport with Dalton. He is a big and easy target to throw to. He is a vertical receiving threat for a tight end. They can displace him from the core. He can play in a two-point stance, and stretch the field vertically, running routes like a receiver.”

Mike Tomlin has admitted to having a defensive breakdown, when it comes to the tight end position. The Bengals have to use Tyler Eifert in a capacity that will expose that deficiency. On paper, that looks perfect. But on the playing field, Iron Man will have to show up.

[Feature Photo by Andy Lyons / Getty Images]