The Cincinnati Bengals had some breakout performances in Week 2 of the preseason against the Washington Redskins.
They also got some not-so-great showings.
Coming out of the exhibition, the following players saw their stocks take a dip, which could put them in roster jeopardy if they don’t turn it around in the remaining two games.
QB Jeff Driskel
Driskel got demoted to the third team thanks to rookie passer Ryan Finley, then went to coaches and asked to play elsewhere.
In Washington, Driksel attempted five passes and ran it twice while also seeing a little work elsewhere. But it certainly wasn’t a big splash and if the Bengals don’t feel like rostering three quarterbacks, the other positions are too loaded to keep him.
WR Cody Core
Core finished second on the team in receiving with two catches for 30 yards.
One problem — he was sandwiched in this regard by undrafteds Damion Willis and Stanley Morgan.
Core simply didn’t flash on special teams or as a receiver, at least compared to those rookies. And since this is a new coaching staff, the final cuts might choose rookie upside over a known commodity like Core.
WR Josh Malone
Malone keeps getting chances and keeps coming up a bit short. Thursday in Washington, he caught just one of his three targets.
Meanwhile, nopt only did Willis and Morgan have strong games, Auden Tate was the go-to guy with four catches on six targets, one of those a touchdown. If Malone can’t show he’s a must-play guy while A.J. Green misses time, he might not make the roster at all.
OL Billy Price
Price may very well be the Day 1 center. But he’s still dealing with a nagging injury and in Washington, he had to work with the second team.
If the Bengals coaches can’t pass on the idea of Michael Jordan at left guard and Trey Hopkins at center, it leaves Price in a bit of limbo.
OL Alex Redmond
Redmond didn’t play but he’s slipping anyway. He’s suspended for the first four games of the season and the coaches have been frank that he’s not the guy at right guard.
Thursday, Hopkins, Jordan and even Price later looked good. John Jerry is still playing guard spots and right tackle. Andre Smith and O’Shea Dugas have looked fine on the edges. Redmond might be too behind the ball to catch up.
LB Deshaun Davis
Davis’ stock has cooled a bit compared to some spring hype. He only got on the field for 16 snaps in Washington and isn’t popping out much, which is a rather bad sign because the position as a whole is just begging somebody to step up.
Maybe Davis flips a switch like fellow rookie Germaine Pratt seemed to do Thursday, but for now, his stock is dipping.
DB Jordan Brown
Another rookie, Brown isn’t doing much to grab the moment.
To be fair, Brown was always going to have a tough transition. But with Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard down and Darius Phillips suffering a minor injury, it’s telling that Brown only got on the field for nine snaps.
