Cincinnati Bengals: Predicting how rookies will perform

Jordan Evans and Hardy Nickerson, LBs

Expected Roles: Backup Linebackers + Special Teams Stalwarts

2017 Statistical Predictions
Evans: 13 games (0 starts), 12 tackles; 8 special teams tackles
Nickerson: 7 games (0 starts), 7 tackles; 6 special teams tackles

Evans was a late-round draftee, while Nickerson was an UDFA. Assuming they both stick around throughout the season, they’ll essentially be occupying the exact same roles for Cincinnati this season. Both of these guys showed enough throughout the offseason to earn spots on the team, but unfortunately for their early hopes of defensive snaps, linebacker was already Cincinnati’s most talented unit on defense.

When everyone is healthy and available, the group has an imposing amount of quality. Vontaze Burfict, all “dirty player” concerns aside, is one of the league’s best 4-3 linebackers around. Kevin Minter was an underrated part of multiple terrific Arizona defenses under Bruce Arians’ time as the Cardinals head coach. Vincent Rey bounced back from a couple down years to put forth his best pro season to date in 2016.

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That best-case scenario is not in the cards for at least the first few weeks of the regular season, however.

Burfict is suspended three games for a bad hit in the preseason. Rey is set to start right now, but for some reason is being tabbed to come of the bench when the whole group would be playing. Instead of Rey, 2016 draftee Nick Vigil — who did not look good in what little action he saw as a rookie — has been tabbed as the third starter with Burfict and Minter.

These predicaments could give one or both of these two here a chance to see more defensive action than once thought.

Rey may actually be best suited for a reserve role, as switching him in on nickel/dime packages in these Burfict-less games may help best utilize him. Vigil could easily bomb in a starting role his prior performance would indicate he’s far from ready for. Fellow rookie Lawson could end up more focused towards defensive line snaps.

Burfict in particular is worth watching carefully. He is walking a very thin line with his play and reputation, so another big suspension could be levied for any halfway-questionable shot he delivers the rest of the year. Any of those scenarios happen, and these two are the only ones left to turn to in the linebacking corps.

I’m skeptical of all those dominoes falling in place so cleanly, however. Maybe some quick bits of playtime here and there when games are decided, but beyond suspensions and injuries there don’t seem to be enough defensive snaps to hand out to all these guys, and these two are on the lowest rungs of the depth chart.

Where they will get action is special teams. Those snaps are exactly what the players at the bottom of rosters are relied on for. Both Evans and Nickerson appear capable of doing well in that role, and quality performances on that front will help them stay around long enough to get a real shot at defensive snaps in the future.

Unless one of them is removed in the coming weeks for currently suspended Bengals (along with the three games Burfict is gone, Adam Jones is also missing the season opener due to suspension), I could easily see that happening for the two of them.