Equally as encouraging was the way a number of players grew up and played well in expanded roles as the team continues to deal with numerous injuries.
Jeremy Hill’s performance was the most notable as the rookie second-round pick ran for 152 yards while starting a third consecutive game for Giovani Bernard, but first-round cornerback Darqueze Dennard played his most important role of the season, while seventh-round wide receiver James Wright and third-round defensive end Will Clarke each logged a career-high number of snaps.
“As you go further through the year, and the young guys have been with us, they’ve been around and they see it, at some point if they get an opportunity to play,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “They made good on those snaps, which is good. As we go through the year, we’re going to need all these guys to contribute at some point.”
Second-year running back Rex Burkhead and third-year corner Dre Kirkpatrick also had increased roles. Kirkpatrick, whom Lewis said “played his tail off,” was in for a season-high 43 snaps for injured starter Terence Newman. And when Leon Hall, the other starting corner left with a sore Achilles in the fourth quarter, Dennard stepped in and impressed.
“It was definitely a pick-me-up, especially when they have the confidence to throw me in there at the end of the game,” said Dennard, whose only previous action on defense had been in the lopsided win versus Tennessee and the blowout loss at Indianapolis.
“It’s kind of frustrating, but at the same time, everything happens for a reason,” Dennard said. “I’m big on that. I feel God’s plan is bigger than mine. Of course everybody wants to come in and be the Deion Sanders and play a full game and have a number of interceptions, but that’s not how it is. Everybody has different learning experiences.”
Dennard finished with one tackle and one pass defended in addition to forcing a fumble on special teams.
Wright appears to have moved past Brandon Tate as the No. 3 wide receiver based on his 30 snaps. He only caught one pass, but it was a difficult one along the sideline on a third-and-8 play that extended the team’s 12-play touchdown drive on its first series of the game.
Burkhead had career highs in catches (three) and yards (36) despite playing just six snaps, and Clarke had a tackle and fumble recovery during his 10 plays on defense after being active in only one of the first 10 games.
“These are all young guys who haven’t played much football for us that had significant snaps, and made game-altering plays, game-impactful plays,” Lewis said.
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