Jack Endries gave Cincinnati an early preseason highlight on Saturday, catching a 4-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco in the Bengals' 2026 preseason opener against Detroit.
The play was an important moment for the rookie tight end because it marked his first NFL touchdown and came in a game where the Bengals were trying to open the preseason with a home win. Cincinnati's first-string offense moved the ball in the first quarter, but it also ran into protection problems, which made efficient plays like Endries' score stand out even more.
Early momentum for Cincinnati
The touchdown did not come in isolation. Earlier in the opener, Cashius Howell recovered a fumble near Detroit's goal line, giving Cincinnati another short-field chance to build momentum. Later in the first quarter, Evan McPherson added a 56-yard field goal to keep the Bengals moving on the scoreboard.
For Endries, the 4-yard catch is the kind of preseason moment that matters for a rookie tight end. It will not decide anything by itself, but it does give Cincinnati a useful early look at how he fits into the offense and how Joe Flacco might look for him in scoring situations.
The next step is simple: keep building on it. In preseason games, young players are often judged not just by one play, but by whether they can keep showing they belong when the offense is trying to execute under real game conditions. Endries at least opened with a strong first impression.
