Wesley Sutton made a statement in his first game for the XFL. In a dominating performance, he racked up 2 sacks, 2 quarterback hits, and a tackle for a loss. That stat line speaks to his willingness to play in the box, something defensive coordinators are not able to get out of all of their safeties.
This kind of skill set could make him a valuable player in training camp, as well as during the season on the practice squad. If the Bengals are set to face a safety who likes to play close to the line of scrimmage, Sutton could mimic his play to prepare them that week.
In an interview with the Justin Kish Sports Network, Sutton was asked what he learned through his collegiate playing experience at Northern Arizona and the two training camps he attended with the Eagles and Ravens. His response? He realized everybody had talent and that he would have to increase his work ethic in order to create distance between himself and the rest of the pack.
Perhaps after a full season of experience in the XFL under his belt, he can reach another level with his new-found work ethic that would land him an opportunity with the Bengals. After all, the team’s often highly ranked special teams unit is built upon players who have attributes similar to the Guardian’s defender.