Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard. Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

Watch: Bengals DE catches TD pass vs. Titans

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Dec 15, 2024 2:15 PM ET

Perhaps Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard could continue to serve as a part-time pass-catcher.

On a 3rd-and-goal late in the second quarter in Sunday's road game against the Tennessee Titans, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow faked a handoff and lobbed a two-yard touchdown pass to Hubbard.

Per Pro Football Reference, the TD catch was the first of Hubbard's career. Jeremy Rauch of WXIX-TV in Cincinnati shared Burrow made sure to save the ball and give it to the DE.

Things you love to see: defensive ends catching touchdowns @Sam_Hubbard_

: #CINvsTEN on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/oDsJJzlBcM
— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024

Sam Hubbard gets his first career receiving touchdown.

Joe Burrow made sure to save the ball and then ran to hug him on the sideline afterwards. #Bengals @FOX19 pic.twitter.com/t77UHsKicv
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) December 15, 2024

Hubbard's TD came at a cost, though. Dave Clark of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the former Ohio State Buckeye injured his knee during the play and was ruled out for the game.

Hubbard — who had 40 tackles in his first 13 games — suffered a right knee injury in training camp, which has lingered throughout the season.

Hubbard's nagging injury has compounded Cincinnati's defensive problems. The unit ranked 29th in the league in points allowed (27.7) entering Week 15.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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