Hubbard (knee) announced Wednesday via social media that he has retired from the NFL.
In a surprising move, Hubbard will bring an end to his career after spending all seven of his professional seasons in Cincinnati. The 29-year-old defensive end sustained a PCL injury and missed Cincinnati's final three games of the 2024 season, but he was relatively unproductive while on the field. In 14 games, Hubbard posted 41 total tackles, the lowest mark since his rookie year in 2018. The Ohio State product ends his career having accumulated 38.5 sacks and 398 total tackles over 104 games during the regular season.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Won't play in regular-season finale
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Hubbard (knee) has been ruled out for Saturday's regular-season finale against the Steelers.
Hubbard will miss a third straight game due to a PCL injury that he suffered in Week 15 against the Titans. He wasn't placed on injured reserve, so if the Bengals manage to make it into the postseason as the AFC's No. 7 seed, it's possible that he could make his return for the wild-card round. Joseph Ossai will continue to start at defensive end alongside Trey Hendrickson due to Hubbard's injury.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Already ruled out
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Head coach Zac Taylor stated Monday that Hubbard (knee) will definitely be out against the Browns on Sunday, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Hubbard is considered likely to miss the rest of the season with a PCL injury per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, so this news isn't exactly surprising; Consequently, Hubbard is a potential candidate to be placed on injured reserve at some point in the near future, although he'll presumably remain week-to-week for now.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Season likely over
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The knee injury Hubbard suffered in Sunday's game against the Titans will likely end his season, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Hubbard's campaign will end with 41 combined tackles, including 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception in 14 games. He also caught a two-yard touchdown pass before exiting against Tennessee. The Bengals will look to Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai to pick up extra work on the defensive line beginning in Week 16 against the Browns.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Ruled out Sunday
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Hubbard (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Titans.
The defensive lineman made one solo tackle before exiting, and he also caught his only target for two yards and a touchdown. Hubbard has 41 tackles (25 solo), including 2.0 sacks, two pass breakups, including an interception, and a forced fumble on the year. Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai are Cincinnati's next available defensive ends.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Logs nine tackles vs. Ravens
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Hubbard recorded nine total tackles (seven solo), including 1.0 sacks and an additional tackle for loss, in Sunday's 41-38 overtime loss to the Ravens.
The Ohio State product tied both Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson for the most tackles on the Bengals' defense in Sunday's loss. Hubbard also made a big play while the Ravens were backed up in their own territory, taking down Derrick Henry for a two-yard loss and a safety that brought the Bengals to within five points in the second quarter. Expect Hubbard to continue being a bright spot on a struggling Bengals defense as the team travels to take on the Giants in Week 6.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Avoids injury report
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Hubbard (knee) was not listed on the Bengals' injury report Wednesday.
Hubbard sustained a knee injury in late July, which kept him out of practice for most of training camp. He went through individual work in late August, and he now appears healthy enough to return to team drills ahead of the Bengals' regular-season opener against the Patriots on Sunday. Across 15 regular-season games in 2023, Hubbard registered 58 tackles (38 solo), including 6.0 sacks and two fumble recoveries.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Sidelined for now
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Hubbard, who injured his knee during practice Sunday, is considered week-to-week according to head coach Zac Taylor, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Hubbard was carted off the field when the injury occurred, but it appears the situation is less dire than it originally seemed. The Bengals will likely be cautious with the 29-year-old, who's played a prominent role in their defense by recording at least 6.0 sacks in each of the last three seasons.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Tallies 6.0 sacks in 2023
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Hubbard recorded 58 tackles (38 solo), including 6.0 sacks, and two fumble recoveries across 15 regular-season appearances in 2023.
Hubbard has racked up at least 6.0 sacks in five of his six seasons with the Bengals. His value for Cincinnati comes more as a run stopper than as a true pass rusher, which makes him more a floor than ceiling IDP play, but there's value in his consistent usage. Hubbard remains under contract with the Bengals for two more seasons.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Won't suit up Thursday
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Hubbard (ankle) is listed as out for Thursday's game at Baltimore.
Hubbard will miss his second straight game as he deals with a lingering ankle injury. In his place, 2021 fourth-rounder Cameron Sample will probably start on the edge opposite Trey Hendrickson.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Won't play vs. Texans
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Hubbard (ankle) is out for Sunday's game versus Houston, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.
Hubbard will miss his first game of the season in Week 10 as he recovers from an ankle injury. In his place, 2021 fourth-rounder Cameron Sample will probably start at defensive end opposite Trey Hendrickson.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Misses practice Wednesday
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Hubbard (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday.
The sixth-year defensive end has started all eight games for the Bengals, recording 37 tackles (25 solo), four sacks, four TFLs, 13 QB hits and one fumble recovery across 78 percent of the defensive snaps. Hubbard will look to get back on the practice field Thursday ahead of Sunday's game against the Texans.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Gets sack for second straight game
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Hubbard registered six tackles (four solo) including a sack in Sunday's 31-17 win over the 49ers.
Hubbard has a sack in back-to-back games after he got to Brock Purdy late in the fourth quarter. Hubbard is on pace to surpass the 6.5 sacks he had in 2022, and his four sacks on the year is second on the team in that category behind Trey Hendrickson (eight).
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Productive night in win
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Hubbard played 84 percent of the defensive snaps and finished with six tackles and a sack in the Bengals' 19-16 win over the Rams on Monday.
The defensive end also helped the Cincinnati defense hold Los Angeles to a 1-of-11 showing on third down. Hubbard has 18 tackles, three quarterback hits, a tackle for a loss and a sack through three games.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Upgrades activity level
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Hubbard (calf) was a full participant at practice Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Hubbard exited the Bengals' Week 15 game against the Buccaneers early with the injury, and he has not played since. With Hubbard now able to practice in full, he should be able to play Sunday against the Ravens, which is good news for the Bengals' pass rush.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Status in question for Monday
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Hubbard (calf) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Bills.
After Hubbard injured his left calf Week 15 at Tampa Bay, there was an expectation that he'd miss multiple games. So far, he's sat out just one, but limited showings in practice Thursday through Saturday are giving him a chance to return Monday. If he's able to, Hubbard will be looking to add to the 57 tackles and 6.5 sacks that he's notched in 14 appearances this season.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Sees limited work Thursday
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Hubbard (calf) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Andrew Gillis of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Hubbard, who was originally expected to miss multiple games due to the calf injury he suffered Dec. 18 versus Tampa Bay, has now opened Week 17 prep in positive fashion. If the 27-year-old is indeed unable to gain medical clearance prior to Monday's matchup against the Bills, then Cameron Sample would likely start at defensive end opposite of Trey Hendrickson.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Won't play at New England
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Hubbard (calf) is listed as out for Saturday's game at the Patriots, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.
Hubbard will miss his first game of the season as he works to recover from a calf injury he sustained in Week 15 at Tampa Bay. In his absence, 2021 fourth-rounder Cameron Sample should draw the start at defensive end across from Trey Hendrickson on Saturday.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Won't return Sunday
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Hubbard (calf) was downgraded to out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Hubbard's inability to return will leave Cincinnati without its top two pass rushers, as Trey Hendrickson missed his first game of the season due to a broken wrist Week 15. With both players' availability moving forward now up in the air, the team could be down to just three available edge rushers heading into Saturday's Week 16 contest versus the Patriots. Hubbard's activity level during practice Tuesday should shed more light on his injury status.
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Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Full participant Wednesday
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Hubbard (hand) was a full participant during Wednesday's practice, Jay Morrison of The Athletic reports.
Hubbard underwent X-rays on his left hand following Monday's loss to the Browns, but he appears to have sidestepped an injury completely. Barring a setback, the defensive end should be good to go for Sunday's matchup against Carolina.
