6 Bengals whose stock significantly rose in preseason game vs Cardinals

The Cincinnati Bengals did not come away with a win in last night’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. However, there was a lot of good to take away from it. Some players opened the eyes of fans and coaches.  Six Bengals players, in particular, saw their stock significantly rise despite the loss.

Fortunately, Evan McPherson is still Evan McPherson. We have become spoiled by him hitting Steph Curry-esque field goals from the logo. And yes, Dax Hill made excellent plays, but as a first-round pick, his stock did not have as much room to rise as the others on this list.

Enough with the preamble. Let’s dive in.

Bengals RB2?

Chris Evans

Chris Evans mania is at an all-time high after his performance. Perhaps he was still feeling some residual effects of being placed on a list of betting odds to be the next person to date Kim Kardashian. Or maybe it is just a continuation of his solid rookie season and a good training camp performance this year.

Cincinnati’s own “America’s backside” had an excellent performance. But you would not be able to tell by looking at the box score. On the night, he finished with eight carries for minus-three yards and an average of -0.4 yards per carry.

So what has fans thinking he can take over the RB2 duties from Samaje Perine? Evans had a 60-yard run, 13-yard reception, and a five-yard touchdown run, each nullified because of penalties. However, his stat line looks a lot better with those added plays.

Along with his rushing performance, Evans showcased his return abilities with one kick return for 41 yards in the second quarter. And on top of all this, he also played a role in punt coverage duties. The hype around Evans began last year. Expect it to reach the fever pitch now.

WR4

Trent Taylor

Throughout training camp, there has been the question about who will be the fourth wide receiver on the depth chart. Trent Taylor played well enough to throw his name into the conversation. In the first quarter alone, Taylor had three catches for 64 yards. He finished the game with four receptions for 74 yards. The veteran receiver showed good chemistry with backup quarterback Jake Browning.

Taylor, a fifth-year pro, has been lost in the shuffle a bit regarding who will earn the title as WR4. But it is easy to understand why. Last year he only had two catches on three targets. But he also had a crucial two-point conversion against Kansas City to tie the AFC Championship game in the third quarter.

Perhaps most importantly for his roster ambitions, he averaged 7.4 yards on punt returns last year. He also returned kicks for an average of 17 yards per return in limited duties. As of now, Mike Thomas appears to have an edge in the WR4 competition. However, there are challengers like Kwamie Lassiter III, Kendric Pryor, and Trent Irwin. But now, we should include Taylor in those conversations moving forward.

Kendric Pryor

If you were not aware of Kendric Pryor already, now you know. Pryor, an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska, had an excellent game in his preseason opener. So seeing that he could showcase his abilities in game action was nice.

The first thing that the coaches are going to love is that he did the little things. When Pryor was called on to run block against edge defenders, he did so effectively. He was also deployed on punt coverage duties.

Then, of course, came the splash plays. Early in the second quarter, at a full sprint, Pryor was able to drag both feet and come down with an incredible catch from a fantastic on-the-run throw from Jake Browning.

Pryor’s work in the first half alone was enough to see his stock rise. But then he came back in the third quarter and had an incredible catch with multiple defenders draped all over him. Late in the fourth quarter, backup Drew Plitt threw a beautiful back shoulder throw pass in which Pryor adjusted and made an incredible one-handed catch.

And for the coup de gras, Pryor finished off the final drive with a stutter step move and flew right past the corner for what looked to be an easy pitch and catch for a touchdown on the last significant play of the game.

Pryor finished the game with four catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. His stock is definitely on the rise. Keeping him off the roster will be hard if he continues to play like this in the upcoming preseason games. Even more challenging to hide him on the practice squad.

Defensive line

Jeff Gunter

The defensive end/edge position is a crowded one. It is going to be difficult for guys to separate themselves. However, Gunter is starting to do just that. Throughout training camp, we have heard that Gunter was getting the best of the offensive line on several occasions. Even Jonah Williams. We waited with bated breath to see how he would perform against different colored jerseys. He did not disappoint.

Gunter showed incredible quickness at the snap of the ball. A little too quick one time, drawing an offside penalty. He appeared to be in the offense’s backfield constantly. His relentlessness finally paid off in the second quarter when he was credited with a sack. He also had a nice pass breakup on an attempted screen pass.

His performance last night, along with what we have heard from training camp, has Gunter’s stock on the rise. So look for him to get more reps against what will hopefully be closer to first-string competition. The question now is can Gunter do enough to surpass his competition at the edge positions? He is facing an uphill battle where that is concerned. But he is off to a good start.

Zach Carter

Another draft pick looking to make his mark was Zach Carter. His transition from primarily a defensive end in college to a three-tech defensive tackle seems to be going swimmingly.

He pushed the guard backward in the first quarter to make a good play on a quarterback draw. On the next play, Carter beat a double team to force McSorley to take off. The play was a negative for the Bengals’ defense but a positive rep for Carter. In the second quarter, he had a batted pass.

Carter finished the evening with four tackles, and one pass defended. The third-rounder will be on the final 53-man roster barring injury. The only question is how much Carter will contribute this year. If last night was any indication, he could see plenty of action sooner rather than later.

Quarterback

Drew Plitt

The biggest surprise of the evening was fourth-string quarterback Drew Plitt. The Loveland High School star played his college football at Ball State. He was signed to the Bengals roster when Joe Burrow had to get his appendix removed. However, in one night, he went from training camp arm to the best-rated Bengals QB of the game.

Plitt had a beautiful pass to Kendric Pryor late in the fourth quarter. That throw was perfectly placed over the corner’s head but away from the breaking safety. Pryor made a great catch, but it was also a terrific throw.

Plitt finished the night with a perfect passer rating of 158.3. He was a perfect six for six passing for 76 yards and one touchdown. Now, he probably will not challenge Brandon Allen for the backup spot. However, with the team taking their time with Burrow and Allen suffering a concussion, expect Plitt to get more reps in the next preseason game behind Browning.  Plitt’s stock is on the rise. The only question now is how high it can climb. To paraphrase Vision, What is love if not grief persevering after a Bengals loss? Who Dey?!