We’ve touched on X-factors and “best-kept secrets” for the Cincinnati Bengals leading up to the 2022 season, and now we find a potential breakout star from the team.
CBS Sports NFL Draft writer Chris Trapasso named players for his “Out of Nowhere” team for 2022 and on that list was Bengals running back Chris Evans, who is coming off an impressive rookie season, particularly as the season wore on and helped build the playoff run. He should be in line to be the direct backup to Joe Mixon this season, if not see more work and start sharing time with Mixon:
“The talent is undeniable with Evans. Check his combine workout, it’s first-round caliber, with 90-plus percentile broad and vertical jumps and blisteringly fast agility-drill times. Even after what was easily marked as a disappointing collegiate career relative to the recruitment and freshman year hype, the Bengals rolled the dice in the sixth round of the 2021 draft. Of course, Joe Mixon is Cincinnati’s feature back, and Samaje Perine is the locked-in backup, so Evans only saw 17 rushes during the regular season. He averaged 4.5 yards per pop, a respectable figure, and forced an encouraging five missed tackles on those attempts. Evans proved to be a formidable receiving option too, which is probably where the most value of his future lies.
He averaged 10.1 yards per catch on 15 receptions and forced another five whiffs by defenders. He’s thick, bouncy, an effortless pass catcher. In short, he has the juice to threaten Perine for to be second in line for out-of-the-backfield touches on a dynamic Bengals offense. If he gets that opportunity — and I think he’ll get more action than he saw as a rookie — Evans will bust out in Year 2.”
Evans is indeed right in line to seriously push Samaje Perine for the backup spot and based on what he’s flashed as a pro, he could put up some big numbers and become a long-term piece.
