Cincinnati Bengals: Takeaways from Week 16 loss to Browns

But He Could Be A Great Short-Yardage Weapon

He isn’t a completely lost cause, however. While he may never become someone worthy of that high draft status, he can still prove to be a useful weapon for an offense.

While his ability to consistently make downfield plays is worth questioning, Ross has shown this year that when he does get the ball he can make things happen in short-yardage situations.

It goes all the way back to the preseason, where what people remember is his 57-yard completion for a touchdown to open the preseason game against Buffalo, but most of his contributions actually began much closer to his quarterback. In each of Cincinnati’s first three preseason games, Ross caught a pass and made something happen: he took his receptions for 20 yards vs. Chicago, 29 vs. Dallas, and nine vs. Buffalo.

In the regular season, we’ve seen the vast majority of his work come from short-range targets. On the season only three of his catches have gone for 20+ yards, and five of his seven touchdown receptions have been made within five yards of the end-zone.

There is still plenty of work to be done for Ross to become the type of player the Bengals must have been expecting when the selected him so high in 2017, but his speed and ability to create separation quickly were a notable strength highlighted during the scouting process, and in a season where he’s been healthy it has stood out as perhaps his one calling card for the offense.

He may never become a high-end receiver, but at worst he should be able to act as a useful package piece for short-yardage and red-zone plays where his immediate burst can give a decisive advantage.

There aren’t too many highlights to rest on for the Bengals in a year where they are relegated to last place in the AFC North, but this particular strength of Ross’ is worth investing in beyond this year, and it can hopefully be part of the next great Bengals team.