Kroft (knee, ankle) finished the 2016 season with 10 catches for 92 yards on 12 targets in 14 games.
A 2015 third-round selection, Kroft entered his second NFL training camp as the favorite to fill in for an injured Tyler Eifert early in the season. Kroft then suffered a knee injury that cost him most of camp and the entire preseason, allowing C.J. Uzomah to emerge as the top pass-catching tight end in Eifert's absence. Despite starting 11 games and playing 39 percent of the team's offensive snaps, Kroft was never much of a factor in the Cincinnati passing game. He may have to compete with Uzomah for the No. 2 job in training camp.