Matchup against Derrick Henry gives Logan Wilson his time to shine

As the Bengals gear up to take on one of the best running backs in the league, Derrick Henry, it provides the opportunity for Logan Wilson to standout.

Up to this point, all of the attention has been directed towards the Cincinnati Bengals’ first and second-round picks, Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins. However, the club’s third-rounder, linebacker Logan Wilson, has quietly been piecing together some solid performances, providing optimism for the future of the position.

The rookie defender already has 18 tackles, two interceptions, and a pair of pass breakups in his young career. He’s done that on a relatively limited snap count as well. As he continues to make the jump from his small-school stomping grounds in Wyoming to the professional level, the coaching staff looks likely to reward him with more playing time.

Perhaps no better opportunity to utilize Wilson presents itself than the upcoming matchup against Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans. For the past three games, the talented linebacker has been on the field for only roughly 45% of the team’s defensive snaps. That should change starting in week eight.

Logan Wilson is the X-Factor against Derrick Henry

It’s no secret that Derrick Henry has been on a rushing rampage this year. The monster 6’3, 247-pound back already has an astounding 663 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Not to mention, he’s put up those numbers at an extremely effective rate, averaging a whopping 4.6 yards per carry.

If the Bengals aren’t careful, their lack of defensive tackle depth could be exposed in a hurry. Right now, only Mike Daniels and Christian Covington can be relied on along the interior. Geno Atkins is still supposedly battling an injury and thanks to other ailments/opt-outs, Cincinnati has a cast of backups at DT.

The linebackers could certainly take some pressure off the defensive line, however. Who better to do it than Logan Wilson? He’s got the size to take Henry head-on (6’2, 241-pounds) and the athleticism to get out of the box and into coverage if the Titans run play-action.

The matchup provides Wilson an opportunity to really make a statement against one of the premier players in the league. With Joe Burrow slated to be without three starting offensive linemen, the team simply cannot rely on the offense to put up the points they have recently. They can, however, rely on Wilson to show just how special he is and lead the way for a strong defensive performance.