Bengals Roster: Realistic expectations for Clark Harris in 2022

It’s year 14 for Clark Harris on the Cincinnati Bengals roster and year 15 overall. What should fans expect from the long snapping wonder in 2022? 

Long snappers are only really talked about when they mess up. That might be why we don’t hear much of Cincinnati Bengals‘ long snapper, Clark Harris, except for when the topic of long snappers does eventually come up once in a blue moon.

Harris entered the league in 2007 as a member of the Packers’ 07 draft class. Green Bay selected him in the seventh round of that year’s draft but Harris never went on to snap the ball in a regular-season game as a member of the Packers.

Harris spent the first year of his career with the Packers and the Lions and went back and forth between being a practice squad member and unemployed. In 2008, he joined the Texans and ended up as their long snapper for four games while their normal option was suspended.

That was enough to catch the eye of the Cincinnati Bengals, who brought Harris on board in 2009 and he’s remained in the Queen City ever since.

What should Bengals fans expect from 15-year vet long snapper Clark Harris?

It’s hard to really go into detailed expectations when it comes to a long snapper. We know that Harris is good at what he does and that’s why he’s not only been in the league for 16 total years but why the Bengals have kept him in town for 14 of those years.

A realistic expectation for Harris is that he continues to excel at his position and makes sure that his job on special teams goes smoothly. It’s hard to really ask for much else from a long snapper.

Harris is entering his age-38 season and while long snappers have a longer shelf life than most other positions in the league, he’s definitely nearing the end of his career. He chose to re-sign with the Bengals this offseason on a one-year deal and who knows, maybe this could be the final season for the Rutgers product, especially with Cal Adomitis on the roster and looking like a promising option down the road.

Hopefully, the Bengals can make sure that if this is Harris’ last hoorah, he goes out with a Super Bowl ring on the way.