Tyler Eifert

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert said he was happy to feel sore following his season debut against the Cleveland Browns.

Sore is normal. Anything other than that is not.

"I felt good. I’m a little sore. I haven’t hit anybody in nine months," he said. "I obviously had a limited number of snaps but overall as far as things that were bothering me —my back and my ankle — those feel great."

Eifert played 15 snaps in a return that he has been working toward all offseason. After rehabbing all offseason from ankle surgery, his debut was pushed back two more weeks after he injured his back. He was a risky play in his return due to a potential pitch count, but should get more work next game as long as there are no signs of a setback.