Cincinnati Bengals Zero-Snap Spotlight: Alonzo Russell

By Kenn Korb | Jul 10, 2017

TOLEDO, OH - OCTOBER 17: Wide receiver Alonzo Russell /

Continuing to analyze the Cincinnati Bengals roster with the Zero-Snap Spotlight series, looking at wide receiver Alonzo Russell.

The Zero-Snap Spotlight series has a handful of installments already, all looking into the Cincinnati Bengals roster and the players that are unknown quantities in this league. As always, these players all share the fact that they have spent time in the league, but have yet to play a down in the NFL.

Here are the players I’ve already looked at: Andrew Billings, Marcus Hardison, David Dean, Ryan Brown, and Tra Carson.

To continue this series, I look at wide receiver Alonzo Russell.

Leading into last season, major changes came to the Bengals receiving corps. Gone were the talents of Marvin Jones Jr and Mohamed Sanu. In their place stood the additions of veteran Brandon LaFell and rookie Tyler Boyd.

With those changes, the Bengals saved on cash for both the present and future, but their passing game effectiveness suffered. Despite having Andy Dalton available all year after missing the end of 2015 to injury, an offense which had been Football Outsiders’ second-ranked passing attack dropped to 11th in 2016. That is still respectable, but not the sort of game-deciding unit seen the season prior.

More from Cincinnati Bengals

Russell could have possibly helped keep the team closer to those 2015 heights, had he been available. His height (6-4) would have made him an excellent red zone weapon to help supplant the targets lost when A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert each spent significant time out with injuries. Those issues were a major key in Cincinnati’s red-zone scoring dropping from sixth in 2015 to 18th last season.

Unfortunately for all involved, Russell wasn’t able to even try making an impact because of his own injury. After a good showing in OTAs, a knee procedure threw his hopes for making the 2016 roster out the window. He did get to stay on the practice squad after roster cuts, however, and entering this offseason, he seemed to have a decent chance at bringing those 2016 hopes to fruition a year later.

Cincinnati’s draft made that much harder, though. The additions of John Ross and Josh Malone provide the team with what should be an instant starter and another big, talented receiver. Add them with Green, LaFell, and Boyd, and that’s already five receivers. Consider the expectation of Eifert starting the year this time around and staying healthy (debatable, but part of the plan nonetheless) as well, and there may not be a spot for Russell anymore.

Even with the passing game becoming much more pronounced leaguewide in the past decade or so, it’s rare to see a team go beyond six receivers on their final roster. Assuming Green/LaFell/Boyd/Ross/Malone all make it, that leaves a single spot to be decided between Russell, Cody Core, Chris Brown, Alex Erickson, Karel Hamilton, Jake Kumerow and Monty Madaris.

Next: NFL Power Rankings 2017: Best players by jersey number

Even with an injury earlier this offseason likely damaging Core’s chances, the sheer number of competitors massively hurts Russell’s odds. The overlapping skill-set with not only multiple guys he’s competing against but at least a few names that are locks does him no favors either.

Maybe he will make it to the practice squad again, but without a slew of injuries around him, it’s hard to see Russell being part of the final 53.

Home/Cincinnati Bengals