The Cincinnati Bengals won their first game of the year. The players performed well. Yet, there are some players from who the team could get more.
After looking at the snap count from Week 1, here’s who fans would like to see receive more snaps in the coming weeks.
Auden Tate
First, Auden Tate deserves more snaps. Every preseason we talk about how Tate should be more involved in the offense.
One play from the game against the Vikings that made me think of this was the incomplete pass to Mike Thomas in the third quarter. No big deal. Maybe the throw was just a bit off.
Perhaps Tate probably would not have been able to get to it either. The drive still ended in a touchdown. But, the idea of him using his tall frame to stretch out for a ball like that is intriguing. We have seen him do it before.
https://twitter.com/Bengals/status/1184215368807702536
Several times, in fact.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1188545962794336256
We even noted last year, during training camp, that Burrow and Tate seemed to have a connection. This carried over some during the season, but not nearly enough.
HAVE A DAY AUDEN TATE pic.twitter.com/7Zx3hibvaf
— Evan McPhillips (@emcphil) November 1, 2020
He is sure-handed. He has done everything he has been asked to do. He could be seen blocking downfield several times on Sunday. He is always one of the stars of the preseason. He has shown that he can be counted on. He knows it too.
More importantly, his agent knows it. This is why last year, there was talk of him asking for a trade.
Look, the Bengals are not going to look to take Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, or Ja’Marr Chase off the field. It is a great feeling knowing that someone like Tate can spell the other three. But for him, it must be frustrating to have shown what he can do and still not get many opportunities to do it.
But it is a long season. Longer than ever. He deserves, nay, he has earned more than eight snaps. Eventually, he will get his shots. Hopefully, he will make the most of them.