Bengals TE Erick All recounts being hit by truck in Greece earlier this summer

CINCINNATI — Bengals tight end Erick All Jr. is attempting to return from two ACL surgeries that sidelined him for the second half of his rookie season in 2024 and all of the 2025 season. His recovery had gone well, but it was put to the test while he was vacationing in Greece last month.

As he was walking down the sidewalk near his hotel, All said that a three-wheeled truck veered off the street, made contact and knocked him to the ground. While the Bengals’ tight end is known for his toughness, this incident put that to the test. As everyone waited for the moment that All would be fully back and comfortable returning to the field after his serious knee injury, being able to pop back up after being hit by a truck made it clear to All that he was ready to return.

“That was huge for my confidence, you don’t understand, that did a lot of good things for the mental,” All said. “It could have been very bad. That’s what I do. I’m here for the physicality. After not playing for a while, when I got smacked by that thing, and I got up, that is as big of a hit — that’s the first time I ever got pancaked. Ever. I’m like, damn, if I can take that, I’m good. I’m usually the hammer.”

All still has a scrape on his face from the incident, but reiterated he feels 100 percent and as good as ever coming off the two surgeries — and one pancake. That’s big news for a Bengals offense that began molding its scheme around him during his rookie season in 2024.

“Obviously, he had a lot going on with his knee, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at him,” Joe Burrow said. “He looks fit, fast, explosive. He’ll play a big role for us this year.”