Bengals need to trade for a tight end and let go of Irv Smith Jr.

Let's not put this up for a debate. The Cincinnati Bengals need to move on from tight end Irv Smith Jr. and get a replacement as soon as possible.

That would likely require utilizing the trade deadline proactively, which the Bengals don't normally do. Whenever the Bengals turn to action in unfamiliar waters, it's almost always because they don't have a choice in the matter. The decision becomes a formality. 

If Smith didn't make it a formality himself with his fumble against the 49ers, he might as well have inexplicable and total immunity. 

The first six weeks of the season proved the Bengals have, by a wide margin, the worst tight end group in the NFL. Smith has shown virtually nothing as a receiver, taking away zero attention from defenses like he's the only entity in the universe without any gravitational force. Behind him is the uninspiring duo of Drew Sample and Mitchell Wilcox, who are even less athletic than Smith and garner the same level of non-respect from defenders.

After a much-needed bye week to reset, Smith was called on to earn his keep in a crucial spot. The Bengals had a four-point lead late in the first half and looked to make it an 11-point cushion with the ball inside the 49ers' five-yard line. Joe Burrow threw a quick bubble screen to Smith, who caught it and was almost immediately met by tacklers.

The play failed due to bad blocking, but Smith turned it from a failure to a disaster by coughing up the ball and taking potentially seven points off the board. Cincinnati had a timeout and three more downs to work with, but not after Smith gave the 49ers new life.

Somehow, Smith managed to find the ball later in the game. He finished with four receptions for 25 yards with his longest play turning into 11 yards.

Every one of those stats is a season high for Smith. That's how bleak the situation has been.

It would be one thing if the Bengals were in a grim place like Smith clearly is, but Sunday's win proved that to be the opposite. This is a team that's finally realizing its potential, and are firmly in the beginning stage of the AFC playoff race. Sticking with such a clear liability as one of the starting pass catchers would be handcuffing yourself and throwing away the key.

The Bengals tried to buy-low with Smith and experience a surplus, much like they've been able to do with similar free agent signings in recent years. It isn't working, and it's not likely to work for the final 10 games of the season. There's no rookie or young player with promise they can turn to as they've utterly ignored the position for the past four NFL Drafts. Tanner Hudson can be signed off the practice squad, sure, but how much is he really moving the needle against quality defenses?

A new plan needs to be implemented now, especially with the trade deadline a little over 24 hours away. Austin Hooper, Hunter Henry, Mo Alie-Cox, maybe even Hayden Hurst. Whomever would pique the Bengals' interest needs to be seriously discussed with the clock running out to make a move. 

Accept a loss and create a new win. Contending teams don't always wait for when opportunity arises, sometimes they create their own door to walk through.

The Bengals are looking at a flashing red warning sign. All they have to do is respond accordingly.