Cincinnati Bengals: Predicting Practice Squad

CB: Chris Lewis-Harris

December 30, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Bernard Pierce (30) tries to get around Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris (37) at Paul Brown Stadium. Cincinnati won the game 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Lewis-Harris may be the odd man out in the cornerback battle due to the depth at the position.  He and R.J. Stanford have been battling for playing time during the preseason and both have produced well for the team.  Stanford is a career special teamer and with the Bengals special teams unit struggling so much lately, his skill set may prove to be more valuable for the Bengals.  The team lost its gunner when Andrew Hawkins left for the Browns, so because Stanford possesses such impressive speed (he reportedly ran a 4.29 40 in college), he’d make the perfect replacement.  CLH is probably the superior cover guy, but hasn’t dominated Stanford in this way through two games.  Beyond this, the factors working against CLH are two-fold.  First, Stanford isn’t eligible for the practice squad, even under the new rules.  With CLH still possessing eligibility, this is the only way the Bengals could hang onto both players if they choose to try and do so.  Second, CLH is suspended for the first two games of the season due to violating the league’s substance abuse policy.  It’s only two games, but it certainly won’t help his chances.  Stanford clearly has the edge and unless the Bengals get their special teams issues worked out quickly, I don’t see a situation where he falls out of favor.