Former Wisconsin wide receiver Kendric Pryor recorded his first career NFL catch with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
After being activated off the practice squad for Cincinnati’s ninth game of the 2024 season, Pryor joined wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Andrei Iosivas and Trenton Irwin as patch-catchers during the team’s 41-24 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Pryor’s big moment arrived early in the third quarter of the Bengals’ fourth scoring drive of the game. Quarterback Joe Burrow launched a nine-yard pass to Pryor, the third play of what would shape out to be a 10-play drive that pushed the Bengals ahead 24-13.
“It was a run play changed to a pass and Kendric gets his first NFL catch. … Kendric didn’t know he was playing until Saturday at noon,” Bengals’ head coach Zac Taylor told media following Sunday’s win.
First NFL catch today 🤞🏾 Grateful for this moment plus a win #WhoDey
— Kendric Pryor (@_KPryor3) November 3, 2024
The catch also came on Pryor’s only target of the game. After entering three separate seasons as a member of several practice squads, including Jacksonville in 2022 and Cincinnati from 2023-24, the wait appeared worth it.
From 2016-2020 with Wisconsin, Pryor recorded 99 catches for 1,265 yards and seven touchdowns in 53 appearances.