As the Cincinnati Bengals head into their final preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, some players still need a chance to showcase their talents before the team makes final decisions about who makes the roster.
The Bengals still have questions about who will fill a couple of spots, particularly at offensive line and third running back.
But before the team makes a costly, but perhaps exciting trade, or a waiver wire pickup, two players who currently occupy a spot on the roster deserve serious evaluation in the third preseason game.
Corey Robinson II should get his chance at backup tackle
The Bengals have thrown a lot at the wall this offseason to improve depth behind the starters on the offensive line. However, things have not gone swimmingly in that department, as the coaches still don't know who the backup tackle will be.
The latest move that reeks of desperation was moving Cody Ford back to guard and shifting Jalen Rivers to tackle. On Saturday night, that experiment went as poorly as Doctor Strange's first attempt to make everyone forget Peter Parker was Spider-Man.
One player who should get a chance to compete for that role is undrafted rookie free agent Corey Robinson II. And while we've already noted why he could be a sneaky offensive line steal, here are some of the reasons why we would love to see him get almost every snap on Friday night.
On the surface, Robinson is everything that the Bengals covet in their linemen. A big, athletic player who helped block for fourth-round RB Mike Washington and pass-block for sixth-round quarterback Taylen Green.
We also took stock of Robinson being on a short list of tackles who didn't give up a sack last year. Doing that at an SEC school is extremely impressive. Or at least that's what everyone who talks about that conference would have you believe.
Robinson looked like he belonged at left tackle in his limited action in front of Sean Clifford against the Lions and Bears as a pass and run blocker, even though those snaps came in the fourth quarter of those games.
Now, with the Bengals still questioning who will be the backup tackle and no good answer yet, the third preseason game should be used as an audition for Robinson to throw his name into the ring. And the coaches shouldn’t wait until the fourth quarter to bring him in.
Give Kentrel Bullock a real chance to steal RB3
The Bengals are set at running back with Chase Brown and Samaje Perine. However, the RB3 spot remains unresolved. Or at least, it should be.
The coaching staff knows what they have in Tahj Brooks. And what they have is not enough to confidently appoint him as the third running back, simply because the team used a draft pick on him last year.
The Bengals have not seen enough from Gary Brightwell or Kendall Milton in their two years with the team to supplant Brooks at RB3. However, another running back, whom we have not seen or heard enough of this preseason, should get a large number of snaps in the final preseason game.
South Alabama undrafted rookie free agent Kentrel Bullock has seen action only after the aforementioned backs have taken snaps in the first two quarters of the preseason games. He had one carry for six yards against the Lions.
Against the Bears, Bullock had six carries for 10 yards, as the Bengals sought to close out the game in the fourth quarter.
When we predicted Bullock would push for a roster spot, we knew he would have an uphill climb to make the final 53. That climb becomes even steeper as we approach the end of his preseason snaps.
With the Bengals already knowing what they have in Brooks, Brightwell, and Milton from last season and this one, hopefully Bullock and Jamal Haynes will get the yeoman's work against Philadelphia. If that happens, we think many fans will be pleasantly surprised by what they see from Bullock.
There are not a lot of positions left that are up for grabs on Cincinnati’s roster. With the important tackle and RB3 spots unsettled, hopefully the coaching staff will let Robinson II and Bullock show what they can do in a last-ditch effort to prove to the Bengals and other coaching staffs that they can contribute if given the opportunity.
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