Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images Hello, John Newton. The Cincinnati Bengals took another brutal loss, this one to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football. The biggest rookie takeaway by far in this game was that Josh Newton stepped up when he finally got a chance to play a significant role. The fifth-round pick out of TCU has been lavished with praise from the coaching staff but has only seen occasional action. With Cam Taylor-Britt’s struggles and DJ Turner’s injury, Newton played 51 snaps and looks to be firmly planted in a starting role for the foreseeable future. Newton had a frivolous penalty called against him, but all-in-all looked pretty solid. Defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu gave offensive tackle Amarius Mims some fits, but the first-round pick ended up having one of his best games of the season. Mims continues to look like an excellent pick. Defensive tackles Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson looked pretty solid overall. Despite the absence of Sheldon Rankins, the two did not see a huge leap in their snaps counts. (Jenkins played 38 snaps, and Jackson played 23.) They did not shine on the stat sheet, but both made notable disruptions in the trenches. Third-round pick Jermaine Burton saw a big dip in his snaps (18) with the return of Tee Higgins. An effort was still made to get him involved with four targets. Unfortunately, he was only able to haul in one catch for eight yards, and even that Jim Harbaugh tried to take away with his little red flag. Seventh-round center Matt Lee saw one snap as an extra lineman, and UDFA tight end Cam Grandy also saw one in roughly the same capacity. Fellow UDFA’s Ryan Rehkow and Maema Njongmeta continued to hold it down on special teams. Rehkow averaged 50 yards a punt, with a long of 64, and pinned the Chargers down inside the 20 on two of his five boots. Njongmenta played 31 special teams snaps and added four more on defense.
Bengals rookie recap vs. Chargers
Drew Lock ‘definitely disappointed’ to be bypassed by New York Giants
Drew Lock of the New York Giants | Rich Barnes-Imagn Images The backup quarterback spoke to the media following being passed up as the next QB in line for the New York Giants. The New York Giants made major headlines this week when they announced that Tommy DeVito was taking over as the team’s starting quarterback. In a rather unexpected turn of events, DeVito, who has been the Giants third-string quarterback all season, was selected to start over Drew Lock, who has been the backup to Daniel Jones. With DeVito leapfrogging Lock on the depth chart, Jones appears to be the team’s fourth quarterback at this point, as recently signed Tim Boyle may end up being the third quarterback on the depth chart moving forward. While everyone wanted to hear what DeVito had to say about being named the starter, the media was just as interested in hearing what Lock had to say about being bypassed. Lock shared his thoughts on Wednesday afternoon: Being bypassed to start “Two sides of it always. One, my job is to be there for him now and help him as much as I can this week, help him on the sidelines on Sunday and be a good asset to this team in any way possible. That’s where my head’s at still. But at the same time, the other side of the coin is, if you get to be the backup all year and the time comes and you end up still being a backup, you’re upset. You want to be playing, everybody wants to play. There is two sides to that coin, but the one that I’m going to show here is what’s important.” ‘It was expressed to me that I was going to be the two’ “Again, that’s a question I might still have for myself. It was expressed to me that I was going to be the two. I don’t know, it’s an interesting situation. Not much I can really say about it besides, again, I’m going to be here for him. We’re still communicating, still very good friends, believe it or not. I’m going to be here for him. This team needs to get a win. If we start winning, everything gets a little better around here.” How was the decision explained to Lock? “Simply put, similar situation last year with him. Felt like the team rallied around him well and gave them a little spark. That’s what they know, that’s what they’ve seen. The time in the preseason. That’s what their decision was based on. That’s what they’re going with.” Is there some confusion and/or disappointment for him? “Probably both. Definitely disappointed. But again, I’ll just keep reiterating, my disappointment will not show one bit, around anyone in this facility or after that meeting upstairs. Obviously, I expressed this with them. But my job is to just tongue and cheek and keep rolling. I’ll handle this like a pro. I’ll be professional. That’s something I’d pride myself in. I’m not going to be a guy that tears apart the locker room. I’ve got to build it up. I know winning and playing good on Sunday in the quarterback position is good for this team and I’m going to try to help him do everything we can.” Was Lock misled when he signed with the Giants? “No. Obviously, the situation can be looked at as that. Maybe I don’t want to think that or feel that. So, that’s where I’ll stand and just believe that when my time comes, it’s supposed to come. I’ll be ready for it.” Does Lock regret signing with the Giants this offseason? “No. Anytime you get to be on a new team, learn a new offense, grow as a quarterback, learn from (quarterback) Daniel (Jones), learn from these guys in this facility and keep learning. I feel like that carries weight moving into next year and the previous years. This is my fourth offense now. Three West Coast, now you get more of a New England traditional with a little Buffalo. I kind of got it all under the belt now and that’s something I’d hang my hat on.” On Daniel Jones’ reaction “Obviously he’s upset. But at the same time, he’s in there in the meetings, came in on Tuesday, sat in there and watched the games with us. Honestly, it’s not surprising. It’s what I expected. Him being in there, helping Tommy (DeVito). Good quarterback rooms are fun to be in. The ones that get ugly, it’s just a tough environment to be in.” What it felt like seeing Jones as the fourth quarterback in practice “Yeah, it’s interesting. It’s weird because it’s not ever what you’ve seen, right? But again, he’s upset. He’s taking it as well as anybody would in that position.” Does Lock expect Jones to leave the team early? “No, we haven’t talked too much about it. Knowing the guy he is, they’ll probably have to kick him out of here for him not to be here.” On still supporting his teammates “There’s a ton of emotions involved in all of it. I would say, this is still a business. I want more jobs after this year. So, if I come in and be ugly and nasty, it just leaves a bad taste in these guys’ mouths. Who knows how fast that spreads. I’m going to come in and be great. And not to mention, I’ve been really close with Tommy (DeVito). It’s more than just a business thing. I appreciate him. He’s a great friend and I want him to go out there and do well. He deserves to go out there and play well. He deserves to have this team behind him. I’m excited for him.”
Phinsider Question Of The Day: Predictions For New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins
Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images Our Miami Dolphins finally accomplished something they had not previously done this season. They won two games in a row. Now, coming off of wins over the Los Angeles Rams and the Las Vegas Raiders, our Dolphins face off against another team in another winnable game. The New England Patriots come to town this coming Sunday with their 3 and 8 record. While the Patriots have played better overall, as of late, they are once again coming off a loss last weekend against the Los Angeles Rams, 28 to 22. So this evening’s Phinsider Questions Of The Day are: A) What will be the final score in this week’s Miami Dolphins game against the New England Patriots? B) What other predictions do you have for the upcoming game against the Patriots? (stars of the game, etc.) Please give us your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-
NFL Power Rankings – Week 12: Time to Streak?
Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images The Dolphins have won back to back games, and are starting to shoot up the rankings. In the words of the great Lou Brown, “That’s two in a row. If we win tomorrow, that’s called a winning streak.” Yes, I know the Dolphins don’t play tomorrow, but I’m sure you get the gist. The Miami Dolphins have won back-to-back games for the first time this year, and the media is starting to buy some stock in Miami. With their first prime-time win in recent memory, beating the Los Angeles Rams 23-15, and their most recent win, drumming the Las Vegas Raiders 34-19, the Dolphins have set the table for a late-season run. For the fanbase, the answer to that would be “about time,” but with football, health plays a huge part in the team’s success, especially at the quarterback position. The Dolphins had to overcome that hurdle early in the season, but with how quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has played since his return from IR, the media can’t help but give the Dolphins a second and third look. Sitting at 4-6, on the surface it’d be easy to dismiss the Dolphins, but the Dolphins are two game losing field goals away from being 4-0 in Tagovailoa’s return, with three of those being high-quality teams. The Dolphins look to continue their winning ways at home against another division rival, the New England Patriots, but the second go around will look a bit different. They will play against a promising young rookie in Drake Maye at the helm of the offense, and he’s shown signs of being their franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future. We could chalk this up as one of those trap games with the Dolphins sporting a (-7.5) in the betting markets, but Miami has done well against teams that they’re supposed to beat, giving them the moniker of the team that beats down bad teams and gets embarrassed by good ones. If the Dolphins can handle the Patriots, as they should, and kick off their winning streak, the media may let them creep back into the top fifteen. They’re already knocking on the door. NFL Ranked #18 – Previously ranked #20 (+2) “The Dolphins didn’t expand their lead over the Raiders beyond one possession until there was less than five minutes left in the third quarter, so let’s not get too excited. Still, finishing with a season-high 34 points — thanks to touchdowns scored on three straight second-half possessions, plus a late field goal — was a positive development. Miami has taken too long to get the offense cranked up in the four games since Tua Tagovailoa returned to the lineup, with four TDs and five field goals before halftime in that span and eight TDs and four field goals after. The playoffs remain a stretch, and the Bills have all but clinched the AFC East race, but Miami can still mount a run, with two games left against the Jets, plus contests with the Patriots and Browns. If the Fins can keep getting the ball in the hands of their playmakers, with increased roles for Tyreek Hill and De’Von Achane, they can make things interesting.” ESPN Ranked #21 – Previously ranked #23 (+2) “Eichenberg’s current 90.1% pass block win rate is better than his previous career high (90%), set in 2022, but his run block win rate is on pace for a career-low 66.9%. He also is on track to allow seven sacks this season, which would be his most since giving up 14 as a rookie in 2021. He is one of the most versatile linemen in the NFL, capable of playing all five positions. But rebuilding the interior offensive line should be one of the Dolphins’ priorities this offseason, and they must decide whether to bring Eichenberg back, as he will be an unrestricted free agent.” — Marcel Louis-Jacques CBS Sports Ranked #21 – Previously ranked #20 (-1) “They are far from done in the race to get a playoff spot. Two straight victories over the Rams and Raiders have them alive.” Bleacher Report Ranked #20 – Previously ranked #21 (+1) “The Miami Dolphins aren’t dead yet. After a 2-6 start marred by injuries and offensive struggles, the Dolphins have peeled off consecutive wins for the first time this season. Sunday’s win over the Raiders was Miami’s best offensive performance of the season, and the star was someone you might not expect. Tight end Jonnu Smith had a huge outing against the Raiders, finishing with six catches for 101 yards and a pair of scores. After the win, head coach Mike McDaniel talked up what Smith has brought to the team. “I knew it was a great add by [general manager] Chris [Grier] and the [personnel] department just because of his skills with the ball in his hands, and then I knew secondhand from a couple of coaches that have been on staffs before the type of person we were getting,” McDaniel said. “But I think the collective of his play and who he is has really added something very important to our offense. Ultimately, he’s making defenses pay for the over attention that Tyreek [Hill] and [Jaylen] Waddle get.” The Dolphins have momentum, but they also have precious little margin for error. With two games over the next three weeks against AFC East tomato cans, there’s a decent chance that Miami will hit the stretch run with a .500 record, putting it back in the wild-card hunt. Analyst’s Take Despite a 2-6 start to the season, the Dolphins are in the thick of the AFC playoff race. Following back-to-back wins, Miami is gaining momentum and scoring in flurries like last year. Smith will be key to the Dolphins’ offensive attack as wideout Tyreek Hill plays through a torn ligament in his wrist. — Moton Sports Illustrated Ranked #23 – Previously ranked #23 (<—>) “The Dolphins, along with the Colts and 49ers, all sit between a 23% and 29% chance
The opportunity to start ‘means a lot’ to Tommy DeVito
Tommy DeVito of the New York Giants | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The New York Giants new starting quarterback is excited for his opportunity. Tommy DeVito is once again set to take over as the New York Giants ‘QB1,’ as “Tommy Cutlets” mania is set to take over East Rutherford starting this weekend. After starting games a season ago, DeVito has served as the team’s third quarterback for the entire 2024 season up to this point. Now, DeVito is being thrust into the starting role for a second consecutive season, being the most popular Giants player to be interviewed by the media on Wednesday. Here’s what DeVito had to say before his first start of the season this weekend: How much it means to have this opportunity “It means a lot. Just another opportunity to get out on the field, showcase my abilities, play for my teammates and the organization.” What’s different than last season “Yeah, I think just the opportunity I had last year to be able to play in games was all the difference it was to now. I have a year under my belt. I’ve played in preseason games, practice, and real games, so it’s a little different this time around.” So… when did DeVito find out he was starting? “I found out Monday morning, probably five minutes before you guys did. But yeah, it’s been good. Everybody’s been supportive. Just continuing to grind and get ready for Sunday.” ‘Open for all outcomes’ “I wouldn’t say surprised, I was open for all outcomes. It’s kind of something that I’ve been preparing for since last year. You always say, ‘stay ready, even though you’re quarterback three. Stay ready, you never know’. And it’s kind of similar to last year, you never know. But continuing to work throughout this whole season so far, learn, practice, just make the most of it, so that way when the opportunity comes, you’ll be ready for it.” ‘Confidence, energy, swag’ “Yeah, I think I bring a certain confidence, energy, swag, whatever you call it, to the team, to the people around me. I think I’ve kind of always had that growing up from when I was even younger, so I kind of just bring that energy, it’s all about really enjoying it for me, I kind of said that last year. It’s like, it is a children’s game, obviously there’s a lot more money and a lot more stakes into it, but at the same time, if you don’t enjoy going out there, you don’t play with the same kind of passion that you would if you did, so really just trying to keep everybody’s high spirits up, enjoy it, and just bring energy when I’m out there.” Support from his teammates “Yeah, I’ve gotten a ton of support from everybody in the locker room, a ton of support. We understand how things went down, you feel for other people because everybody is a human being, and especially in New York, it’s a pretty wild market if you will, with a lot of the outside noise and media. It can be swayed either way, but just continue to stay tight, especially in our group, we’re a really tight group in our room and we cheer each other on and there for each other no matter what, so to be able to have that in this room, it helps us a lot.” DeVito’s message to his teammates “Same thing as it was last year, I’m going to give you everything I can on the field. I put my heart and soul into it all the time, leading up to it, the preparation, and ultimately going out and playing on game day. But most importantly, enjoying doing it.” A message to the fans “You’re here to win a football game, I mean you don’t go out on the field without trying to win. We feed off of the crowd tremendously, when the crowd is into it, it helps keep us going, especially if something negative happens, the more they cheer for us, the more people are there, the excitement, the environment makes all the difference in the outcome of the game.”
Eagles Injury Report: Jalen Hurts limited but will play against Rams
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images The latest news on Philadelphia and Los Angeles. The Philadelphia Eagles issued their first official injury report on Wednesday in advance of their Week 12 road game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Eagles listed four players under DID NOT PARTICIPATE: DeVonta Smith, Milton Williams, Bryce Huff, and Jalyx Hunt. Smith has been dealing with a hamstring injury that’s led to the Eagles managing his practice workload to help get him to game day. The guess here is he’ll be ramped up over the next two days before playing on Sunday night. Williams suffered a foot injury in Week 11. Speaking after the Eagles’ win over the Washington Commanders, Williams said he’s fine despite a noticeable limp. Seems like he has a chance to play this week. Huff could be headed to injured reserve since he’s set to undergo a procedure on his injured wrist. Hunt’s absence was unexpected. The rookie edge rusher is in line to see more playing time with Huff out. If Hunt can’t play, the Eagles only have three healthy edge rushers: Josh Sweat, Nolan Smith, and Brandon Graham. In that event, the team will likely look to temporarily elevate either Tarron Jackson or David Anenih from the practice squad. The Eagles listed two players under LIMITED PARTICIPATION: Jalen Hurts and Nakobe Dean. Hurts is listed with an ankle injury. Nick Sirianni previously accidentally spilled the beans on that issue. The word is that Hurts “was on the final day of a strengthening program, which began following last Thursday’s game geared toward his lower body” (hat tip to Jeff McLane). Hurts is expected to play on Sunday. Dean has previously appeared on the injury report with a groin issue. He’s likely being managed to get to Sunday. The Eagles listed one player under FULL PARTICIPATION: Britain Covey Covey’s 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve was opened on Wednesday. If the Eagles feel like he’s ready to play on Sunday, they have until 4:00 PM Eastern on Saturday to officially activate him to the roster. One would think the team will put Huff on IR to open up a spot for Covey, who’s expected to be the Eagles’ punt returner once he’s back on the field. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES INJURY REPORT (WEDNESDAY) DID NOT PARTICIPATE DE Bryce Huff (wrist)DE Jalyx Hunt (WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring)DT Milton Williams (foot) LIMITED PARTICIPATION LB Nakobe Dean (groin)QB Jalen Hurts (ankle) FULL PARTICIPATION WR Britain Covey (shoulder) LOS ANGELES RAMS INJURY REPORT (WEDNESDAY) To be announced — check back for updates.
2024 NFL wide receiver rankings ahead of Week 12
The highest-graded wide receivers through 11 weeks of the 2024 NFL season, headlined by Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins. Premium Content Sign Up 2024 NFL wide receiver rankings ahead of Week 12 2YK912W New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones (31) breaks up a pass intended for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) By Lauren Gray Posted Nov 20, 2024 12:17 pm EST • Puka Nacua makes his debut: The Rams star racked up seven catches for 123 yards and a score against New England. • A lull for Zay Flowers: The Ravens star has mustered only six catches for 73 yards in his last two games. • Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full access to all our in-season fantasy tools, including weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Start-Sit Optimizer and more. Sign up now! Estimated reading time: 12 minutes Collins returned on Monday night after missing five games. He recorded four catches on the night for 54 yards, with most of his yards coming from a 33-yard gain midway through the third quarter. Collins has posted 36 catches for 621 yards this season, with nine catches of 20-plus yards. Despite his absence, he still ranks first in yards per route run (3.39) and grading against zone coverage (91.8) while remaining top 10 in threat rate (27.9%), explosive gains (19) and grading against single coverage (86.9). 2. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles (90.8) Brown hauled five passes for 65 yards against Washington with four first downs. He secured two catches of 15-plus yards on the night, one of which was a 25-yard gain early in the first quarter. Brown has tallied 12 catches for 210 yards over his last three games and has moved the chains nine times. Ten of his targets have come from the intermediate level of the field, where he’s caught six passes for 107 yards and earned a 92.4 receiving grade. Higgins also returned to the field after a three-game absence, recording nine catches for a season-high 148 yards against the Chargers, with four gains of 20-plus yards. He had another injury scare at the end of the first quarter after taking a hit to the back while being tackled but returned a few plays later. Higgins later recorded a 42-yard touchdown on another fourth-down play late in the third quarter. The Bengals star was targeted four times on late downs and moved the chains three times. He’s been targeted 18 times on late downs this season, catching 12 passes for 186 yards and four touchdowns. He’s moved the chains each time and ranks first in receiving grade on late downs (90.7).
Rams will honor Super Bowl XXXIV team Sunday night vs. Eagles
Set Number: X59537 It’s the 25th anniversary of the franchise’s first Super Bowl Victory, a moment that will be celebrated this weekend The Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl LVI just a few years ago, but Sunday night the team will honor the 25th anniversary of the franchise’s first championship win in Super Bowl XXXIV. The former team, then found in St. Louis, gained notoriety and fame for their explosive offense and unexpected turnaround, going from 3-13 the previous year, to 13-3 en route to winning it all. Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce, Orlando Pace, Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt and Mike Jones are all expected be in attendance for the Rams matchup vs the Eagles on Sunday Night Football to be celebrated by the team and fans prior to the game. “The history of the Rams cannot be written without names like Bruce, Faulk, Holt, Pace and Warner, and the history of the NFL cannot be written without The Greatest Show On Turf and The Tackle,” Rams president Kevin Demoff said in the release. “As their legacies live on in Canton, in their hometowns and across the world thanks to on-field heroics and a Super Bowl championship, their impact continues to be felt in communities across the country through their commitment to important causes. We look forward to teaming up with our ’99 team and our partners to give back this weekend and we are thrilled to celebrate one of the greatest teams in league history on Sunday Night Football.” Known as “The Greatest Show on Turf”, the 1999-2001 roster has already placed four players (Warner, Bruce, Faulk and Pace), as well as one coach (Dick Vermeil), in the NFL Hall of Fame. WR Torry Holt has also been a finalist every year since his eligibility was opened and is more than deserving of his place in Canton among his teammates. The Rams also claimed three NFL MVP titles in the same amount of years, with Warner winning in 1999 and 2001 and Faulk winning it in 2000. The team is highly regarded as one of the best offenses to ever play in the NFL, with many arguing that they are number one. From 99-01 the Rams went 37-11, reaching the playoffs each of their three years, and making two Super Bowl Appearances along with winning one ring. In 1999, the Rams were first in the league in passing with 4,580 yards, yards per pass attempt with 8.64, passing touchdowns with 41 and total offensive yards with 6,639. In 2000, the team set a NFL record with 7,335 total offensive yards, 5,492 of which were just passing yards – also an NFL team record. In 2001, the Rams were again first in the league in total offense with 6,930 yards, passing yards with 4,903, passing touchdowns with 37, and rushing touchdowns with 20. For a three-year period the Rams offense was completely dominant unlike any seen before them. Recently, Warner explained why he believed their team was the greatest offense in NFL history saying: “I would always argue that our offense was the greatest offense that the league has ever seen” said Warner “We’re on there (a list) three times. You could argue that Tom Brady had the greatest season, but to do it for three straight years the way that we did, I don’t know if there’s ever been an offense that good. We had Hall of Famers and a system that fits what all of us do. That’s what we’re speaking to, the idea of getting a system that fits your players.” The 99-01 Rams teams personally hold a special place in my heart. It was the first team that really got me into football as a young kid, and had me going to school in a different Rams Warner jersey every day of the week. After their move to LA in 2016, the St. Louis Rams and their history was kind of put into NFL limbo, but with the franchise choosing to honor the STL team, despite the location change, hopefully new generations of Rams fans will continue to recognize and appreciate how special those years were.
Patrick Queen wants prosperity not pity, Ravens flock or Ravens fluke?
Patrick Queen wants prosperity not pity, Ravens flock or Ravens fluke? Larry Brown Jr. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen wants to win, not continuously come up short in the biggest games of his NFL career. Queen and his Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens 18-16 Sunday, but the countless mistakes made by his former team hints towards a lack of discipline Queen experienced long before his departure. Queen accepted a very bitter defeat versus the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship this past January. Sure, Queen did begin taking jabs at the city of Baltimore earlier this spring. Still, his underlying grief after a 13-4 regular season record and No. 1 AFC seed could not be tastefully conveyed. Queen was emphatic for the Baltimore Ravens last season, playing under defensive coordinator Zachary Orr and alongside all-pro Roquan Smith in a situation that appeared to be the best thing that could have ever happened to him. However, Ravens’ fans continue to see mediocrity emerge, especially within the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens’ offense. Of course, Queen was prepared to school his teammates on the Steelers’ defense about the play tendencies of Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Moreover, not only did Queen help the Steelers hold the Ravens to just two touchdowns, but he forced a huge fumble in the second quarter to stall a Ravens late first-half drive. For Queen, things could’ve been so simple. Had the Ravens focused in last season, they may have retained Queen, won the Super Bowl, and taken a ride into glory. Instead, they’ll recalibrate and have to sober into the reality that they may have to clinch a playoff berth as a wild-card team this season. That is unless the Steelers tumble backward.
Bengals legend Willie Anderson named as finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025
Enquirer file / USA TODAY NETWORK Will he get in this time? We all know he deserves to. The Cincinnati Bengals only have two former players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, left tackle Anthony Muñoz and safety Ken Riley. They could be joined by a third soon. On Wednesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their 25 finalists for the class of 2025, and former Bengals right tackle Willie Anderson has once again made the list. Anderson was one of the greatest right tackles in the modern era of football. The only reason he isn’t in the Hall of Fame already is the Bengals’ absolute lack of success while Anderson was with the team. He was selected in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft out of Auburn and was the Bengals’ right tackle through the 2007 season. During his time in the NFL, he was a three-time First-Team All-Pro, a Second-Team All-Pro in 2003, and a four-time Pro Bowl selection. Other finalists include Jared Allen, Anquan Boldin, Antonio Gates, James Harrison, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly, Eli Manning, Robert Mathis, Steve Smith Sr., Terrell Suggs, Earl Thomas, Adam Vinatieri, Hines Ward, and several others. Currently a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (@ASHOF) and inducted into the @Bengals‘ Ring of Honor in 2022, Willie Anderson is now a Semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025. #PFHOF25 pic.twitter.com/jmntiQOd8c — Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) November 20, 2024
