The Cincinnati Bengals announced cornerback Darius Phillips has been cleared to practice.
This makes the star returner and cornerback the second to return from the Reserve/Injured list this year and starts a 21-day period where he can practice with the team before counting against the active roster. He’s eligible to join the roster next week.
Call it a case of the rich get richer.
Special teams is seemingly the only place the Bengals are rich this year. Brandon Wilson has been a breakout stud on kickoff returns, taking 14 for 490 yards (35.0 average) and a score so far.
The Bengals really appear to have something there with Wilson. But Phillips is just as promising — don’t forget he had a kickoff return for a score after coaches put him in for Alex Erickson, only for a flag to negate it.
Phillips is important to the base defense too, of course. He’s got starter upside, which will be important to see in live action this year with Darqueze Dennard headed to free agency again.
But Phillips adds some more sheer entertainment value to Bengals games alongside an electric breakout like Wilson. His return could help the team win some games too.
