CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals put the blame on themselves Wednesday for a trade-deadline deal with the Philadelphia Eagles that came apart before it was finished.
Head coach Zac Taylor spoke for director of player personnel Duke Tobin, who runs the front office in practice. Taylor read a message from Tobin saying the move to add edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie turned out to be more expensive than the club first expected, that Tobin was sorry about it, and that Philadelphia had been a good partner in the talks. Taylor made clear he was uneasy delivering the message but did so because Tobin asked.
The two teams had lined up a swap that would have sent a 2027 sixth-round pick to Philadelphia for Ebiketie. Cincinnati then pulled out after learning that adding him could cost it a third-round compensatory selection in 2027. Cincinnati earned that selection when Trey Hendrickson signed with Baltimore last spring.
Cincinnati was looking for help at the position because a wrist injury has rookie Cashius Howell on injured reserve. According to Taylor, there is no firm date for his return, though the injury is not expected to end his season.
The Bengals stood pat at Tuesday’s deadline. Taylor never asked Tobin how the deal fell apart, adding that it cost him only a few minutes of film study, and that he and Tobin like the roster that has the team at 6-2.
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