The Sports Xchange

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert was prepared to team up with Jermaine Gresham to give the Bengals a one-two punch at tight end last season.

That plan was squelched when Eifert suffered a season-ending injury.

“We had two threats at the start of last season and then we lost Tyler,” Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton said. “Just his presence out there can change a lot.”

Now that he’s healthy, and with Dalton and the Bengals’ offense firing on all cylinders, Eifert is putting up huge numbers. Through five games, the Notre Dame product has 24 catches for 312 yards and five touchdowns while helping Cincinnati to a 5-0 start this year.

“I’ve always had confidence in myself. I know what I can do,” Eifert said. “Finally getting that chance to go out there and help this offense win games is something that I always thought I could do.

“(Until this season) it was something that was just talked about.”

NOTES: K Mike Nugent was named the AFC special teams player of the week after making his only two field goal attempts against the Seahawks, a 31-yarder to tie the score 24-24 on the final play of regulation and a 42-yarder in overtime to give the Bengals a 27-24 win. … Bengals coach Marvin Lewis and Buffalo’s Rex Ryan were on the Baltimore Ravens’ coaching staff from 1999 through 2001. Lewis was the defensive coordinator and Ryan served as defensive line coach.