Cincinnati Bengals: RB Chris Evans thriving in expanded role
By Andrew Kim
The Cincinnati Bengals are utilizing Chris Evans in a unique way for their offense, and even as a backup, he will garner more snaps in the future.
The Cincinnati Bengals offense has looked better than expected this year led by a great year from Joe Mixon. With the 2nd most attempts out of all the running backs in 2021, however (only behind Derrick Henry), he has dealt with an ankle injury most of the season and has been “questionable” most weeks. With his durability in question due to past injuries, Mixon is usually limited in practice and other running backs rotate in during the game.
The Bengals use their backup running backs in specific roles behind Mixon for that reason. Giovani Bernard, now in Tampa Bay, left in free agency. Both Samaje Perine and Trayveon Williams were on the roster last season, but a pass-catching back was missing in their backfield, and the two latter options are nothing special. Perine signed a two-year deal in the offseason and fits the power back mold in the offense. Williams also helped fill in for Mixon last year but is mostly considered a special teams player. Perine was given carries (along with a receiving touchdown) in their loss 25-22 in Week 5, against the 5-1 Green Bay Packers, but found himself on the reserve/COVID-19 list before Week 6. That pass catching back has arrived in Chris Evans.
At 5’11” 219 pounds, Chris Evans came into the league as a 24-year-old and didn’t get as much usage as he should’ve for the Wolverines (dealt with a suspension in 2019 for academic issues). He couldn’t get his starting job back when he returned in 2020 and wasn’t used as much compared to 2016-2018. Evans always had the potential and talent as a multifaceted weapon on offense, with the traits to do so, but just didn’t get the right opportunity.
With only Mixon and Evans on the roster for their game against Detroit, Cincinnati had to call up Williams from the practice squad as the 3rd running back on the roster. But that didn’t stop Evans from scoring his first NFL touchdown in their win over the Lions, 34-11. The former 6th round pick from Michigan also got his first carries as a Bengal (4 carries for 18 yards), but his value as a receiving back is niche enough to make an impact (had 3 catches for 49 yards along with a receiving touchdown).
So far this year, Evans has been active in four games in Weeks two, three, five, and six while catching at least a pass in every game. He is a receiving threat in the slot or out of the backfield, lining up against most linebackers and beating them with his speed and reliable hands. Evans could easily keep the backup job over Perine behind Mixon moving forward.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is now surrounded by a slew of weapons like rookie Ja’Marr Chase, who is emerging as their top target at wide receiver as a former first-round pick. And with a lead back like Mixon to account for, their offense has no shortage of pass-catchers to throw to. Despite all their other receivers, Chris Evans is a hybrid role player for a defense to keep an eye on when he is on the field.