Dec 13, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Daniel Herron (34) warms up prior to playing the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

You have to actually watch the game to see the impact Bengals rookie RB Dan Herron has had in just two NFL game, as the stat sheet will only show three rushes for eight yards last night during the Bengals 34-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

But he made several bone-crushing blocks on special teams, while also defending his lanes well on kickoff and punt coverage. His biggest play of the night came early in the first quarter of play when he was an edge rusher on the punt return unit, and he blew up Eagles receiver Marvin McNutt backwards into punter Mat McBriar, which blocked McBriar’s punt and the ball was recovered by the Bengals at the PHI-11.

This came just a week after making his NFL-debut against the Dallas Cowboys, a game in which he had a partially blocked punt and was a very effective blocker on the kickoff return team. The 2012 sixth-round pick out of Ohio State said he was never asked to block punts in college or high school, but has excelled in that role for the Bengals:

I  guess it’s one of those things where they kind of just put me out there and I was pretty good at it. I’m getting better at it. I’m working to get better at it. I’m having a lot of fun doing it. I just try to get off the ball as fast as I can, make a move and just get to the ball.

After looking like a lost cause during the preseason and barely making it onto the practice squad, he just may become a key contributor for Cincinnati’s late-season playoff push. He showed some burst in the run game while getting some garbage-time carries, and if Cedric Peerman can’t go next week vs. Pittsburgh, maybe Herron can be the change-of-pace back the Bengals desperately need on offense.

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Nov 25, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (12) catches a pass for a touchdown against Oakland Raiders cornerback Ron Bartell (21) in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

The Bengals have just announced several roster moves, the most noteworthy of which having placed rookie WR Mohamed Sanu on the Injured Reserve list, ending what was shaping up to be a very good rookie season. He still has a  bright future as the Bengals’ #2 receiver next to A.J. Green if he can stay healthy next year and continue the production her was having before fracturing his foot during practice last week. He finishes his first NFL season with 16 receptions for 154 yards and four TDs, and also threw a 73-yard TD pass,  and had five rushes for 15 yards.

In his place, the Bengals opted not to go the free agent route, but instead promoted RB Daniel Herron from practice squad. Herron was the Bengals 6th-round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft. The former Buckeye had a less-than-stellar preseason, and just barely made the practice squad, so don’t expect to see him get many, if any carries.

With a vacant practice squad spot open, the team signed former UC Bearcats receiver WR Vidal Hazelton, who spent the preseason with the Bengals before being waived prior to final cuts.

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Aug 30, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Peerman (30) runs the ball during the game against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

While yesterday’s win over the Chargers was certainly cause for celebration, there were some notable injuries suffered that could be significant heading down the stretch of the 2012 season. RB Cedric Peerman was forced from the game with an ankle injury, and was seen walking on crutches leaving the stadium. He may have suffered the dreaded high-ankle sprain, which could cause him to miss multiple games. If that is the case, expect to see the Bengals sign a RB with Brian Leonard the only other healthy back. If the team feels practice squad RB Dan Herron has progressed enough, he too may be called up.

Dre Kirkpatrick can’t seem to escape the injury bug this year, and now he has a concussion he suffered while playing on special teams yesterday. This season continues to be a loss for the 17th-overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, and it’s unclear when he’ll return from his latest ailment.

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