What is really going on with Bengals DE Sam Hubbard and what's behind his slow start?

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard’s poor performance in the team’s first three games became a major talking point after the Monday night loss to the Washington Commanders .

Hubbard, 29, doesn’t look like the same player he’s shown he can be during his career with the Bengals. Pro Football Focus ranked Hubbard 239 of 239 defensive linemen in their pass rush grade metric following his game against the Commanders.

The former third-round pick out of Ohio State has been one of Cincinnati’s most consistent players on defense for the last five seasons. He’s also a team captain and plays an important role in the Bengals’ defensive rushing opposite of Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson.Cincinnati is missing a consistent pass rush on defense and it’s one of the main reasons the team is 0-3 to start the season.

So, it begs the question: What is going on with Hubbard and why is he off to a slow start?

Sam Hubbard injury update

After an injury-riddled season in 2023 which resulted in ankle surgery and a grueling rehab process in the offseason, Hubbard was confident and excited to start playing football again at the level he expects.

Then, he injured his knee injury on July 28 in the early stages of training camp. The injury wasn’t believed to be serious at the time, but it forced him to miss the entire preseason. Hubbard spent the dog days of camp time rehabbing and trying to work his way back on the field.

It has become clear over the last few days at some point during his time rehabbing, Hubbard injured his hamstring. Hubbard didn’t want to disclose injury information when asked by the local media this week but said Friday afternoon on ESPN 1530 he is dealing with an injury that will “lingering” throughout the season. He also said he is “getting better” each week and is “doing the best” he can under the circumstance.

Bengals vs Panthers injury report

Where things get a little confusing with the Hubbard situation is the fact that he hasn’t been listed on the Bengals’ injury report at all since the regular season started. Per NFL rules, if a player seeks any sort of treatment from an NFL training staff, they must be placed on the injury report. The NFL takes this very seriously and all teams know they are subject to a hefty fine if they fail to follow protocol.

Because of the strict rules regarding injuries in the NFL and reporting them, this means Hubbard is currently not seeking treatment on his hamstring from the Bengals’ training staff or else he would have to be listed on the injury report.

Which brings up the final question: If Hubbard is dealing with a “lingering” hamstring injury, why is he not getting treatment? The only answer that makes any sort of sense is that any sort of medical attention or treatment can’t help his injury at the moment.

There are so many layers to unpack with this situation. Head coach Zac Taylor was asked if Hubbard is healthy on Friday afternoon. Taylor then deflected the question to Hubbard but did say he’s feeling better.

“He was obviously injured in training camp and feels a lot better now but you’d have to ask him that,” Taylor said.

Bengals defensive line injuries

The Bengals are dealing with a ton of injuries on the defensive line currently. Defensive ends Cam Sample and Myles Murphy also suffered training camp injuries. Sample won’t return for the season but Murphy was placed on injured reserve and the hope is that he’ll return in the next few weeks. Murphy is eligible to return in Week 5 but there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready to come back right away.

These injuries are forcing Hubbard to play more snaps than anyone would like right now. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said he’s hopeful to cut down on Hubbard’s snaps to help increase his production. In order to do so, the Bengals need more available bodies Anarumo can trust to put on the field with Murphy still on injured reserve.

Expect sixth-round pick Cedric Johnson to get more snaps in the meantime. The Bengals signed defensie end KJ Henry to their practice squad after he was released by the Washington Commanders before the start of the season but he has yet to be a factor for Cincinnati.

Help is on the way for the Bengals with Murphy expected to come back soon but in the meantime, if Hubbard is going to be out on the field and is healthy enough to not be on the injury report, he'll be held to the same standards everyone else is on the field.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What is really going on with Bengals DE Sam Hubbard and what's behind his slow start?