Downingtown East High School graduate Tyler Kroft, a 24-year-old backup tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals, has had an increased workload over the past two weeks after a recent injury to starter Tyler Eifert.

Kroft, a third-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, entered the season, his third with the Bengals, with 21 receptions for 231 yards and one touchdown. Last Sunday, he hauled in six catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns to help Cincinnati beat the Cleveland Browns, 31-7, for its first win of the season.

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“I want to show that I can do the stuff in the pass game that I know I can do,” Kroft, who played collegiately at Rutgers, told the Cincinnati Enquirer in the summer. “That’s something I think I can show and I’m hopefully showing it.”

With Eifert nursing a back injury, Kroft has been thrust into a starting role.

“I think his understanding of how to run certain routes has gotten a lot better,” said Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton. “I think that comes with experience and time. He’s an athletic guy; he can run, so I think just the understanding of how to run certain routes and where exactly he needs to be has gotten a lot better.”

“As people go down, we always preach next man up has to come up and make a play,” Kroft said. “With any injuries across this team, we’ve got guys and depth at each position.”

The Bengals, a perennial playoff team this decade, are now 1-3.