Tag: Brandon Wilson

Colts sign S Brandon Wilson to the practice squad

Colts make a practice squad move.

The Indianapolis Colts signed safety Brandon Wilson to the practice squad, the team announced Wednesday.

Wilson will be taking the final spot on the practice squad after the Colts waived linebacker Shaquille Leonard and promoted Ronnie Harrison Jr. to the active roster Tuesday.

A sixth-round pick with the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2017 NFL draft, Wilson has appeared in 60 career games (three starts) from 2017-2021. In those games, he’s recorded 59 tackles (36 solo) and three forced fumbles.

He also spent three seasons (2019-2021) as the kick returner for the Bengals, averaging 26.6 yards per return.

Mostly a special teamer, Wilson has 1,031 special teams snaps under his belt with 379 snaps on defense.

[lawrence-related id=91605,91603,91600]

Brandon Wilson’s impending return is good news for Bengals

The Bengals get some key help back down the stretch.

The upcoming return of DJ Reader for the Cincinnati Bengals has majorly overshadowed the return of defensive back and kick returner Brandon Wilson.

To a degree, it should, of course, given that Reader is a top-five player at his position.

But don’t sleep on Wilson, either. He’s consistently been one of the league’s most dangerous returners on special teams when healthy. And that might not sound like much, but Darrin Simmons hasn’t been happy with special teams so far this year. 

Plus, on a smaller scale, Wilson could return as the primary returner and possibly free up explosive running back Chris Evans. Perhaps that means more looks for Evans in the base offense — something coaches have tried to explain. 

Even if it doesn’t, Wilson is also quality base-defense depth. He doesn’t see a ton of snaps there, but some help is better than no help after injuries to the likes of Chidobe Awuzie, Tre Flowers and others.

Wilson isn’t expected to play in Week 11 against the Steelers as he wraps up the comeback from a knee injury. And while he won’t ever get the headlines Reader does, he’s got the ability to swing field position consistently enough that he’s worth pointing to as a big talking point.

[listicle id=153543]

Giants vs. Bengals: Statistics, numbers and broken records

The New York Giants defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 12 and here’s a look at some of the statistics, numbers and broken records.

The New York Giants defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 19-17, on Sunday but unfortunately, that came at a cost. Quarterback Daniel Jones suffered what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury that could cause him to miss several games.

On the bright side, at least for now, the victory moved the Giants into first place in the NFC East and improved their record to 4-7 after starting the season 0-5.

Here’s a look at all the noteworthy stats and records to come from the Week 12 win:

  • With Sunday’s win, the Giants have now won 700 games as a franchise. They are just the third NFL team to reach or eclipse 700 victories.
  • The Giants have now won three consecutive games, their longest such streak since 2016.
  • Sunday’s victory over the Bengals was New York’s first non-divisional win this season.
  • The Giants’ win over the Bengals was their first ever in Cincinnati. It’s also the first time the road team has ever won a game between these two teams.
  • Six of the Giants’ last seven games have been decided by three points or fewer.
  • The Giants gained a season-high 386 yards of offense on Sunday.
  • With their 142 yards rushing, the Giants have now gone over 100 rushing yards in six consecutive games.
  • The Giants held the Bengals to just 155 total yards of offense, the lowest output by an opponent since the Chicago Bears in 2010 (110 yards).
  • Cincinnati’s 11 first down were the lowest by a Giants opponent since 2017 (Washington, 10).
  • Brandon Wilson’s 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Giants was the longest play in Bengals history.
  • Wilson’s kickoff return for a touchdown was the first the Giants have allowed on the road in 30 years (Dallas Cowboys, 1990).
  • Daniel Jones, Colt McCoy and Golden Tate all attempted a pass on Sunday, which is the first time three or more players have done that for the Giants since 2007.
  • Wayne Gallman scored a touchdown for the fifth consecutive game, the longest such streak since Saquon Barkley did it in 2018. It’s also the longest streak for rushing touchdowns since Andre Brown in 2012-2013.
  • Evan Engram’s 53-yard reception was the Giants’ longest pass play of the season.
  • With his four field goals, Graham Gano has now connected on 24 consecutive attempts. That is the second-longest such streak in Giants history (Josh Brown, 29).
  • Defensive end Niko Lalos made his NFL debut and recorded his first career interception.
  • Rookie safety Xavier McKinney made his NFL debut.

[vertical-gallery id=660397]

Brandon Wilson sets Bengals record with 103-yard TD return vs. Giants

Cincinnati Bengals kick returner Brandon Wilson had a big play Sunday.

With Joe Burrow out, the Cincinnati Bengals needed big plays from lots of guys to be competitive at all on Sunday against the New York Giants.

It turns out one of those guys was defensive back Brandon Wilson.

Quietly one of the better kick returners in the NFL, Wilson took a kickoff back 103 yards for a touchdown in the opening quarter of his team’s Week 12 tilt.

According to The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr., that registered as the longest play in Bengals history, surpassing a 1997 kickoff return by Eric Bieniemy.

That special score tied the game at seven as the Bengals looked to overcome the loss of Burrow by starting Brandon Allen under center, all while seeking out the third win of the season.

Here’s the special highlight:

[listicle id=39364]

Watch: Bengals’ Brandon Wilson with 103-yard kickoff return for TD

Brandon Wilson returned a kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown

Who needs Joe Burrow when you have Brandon Wilson?

The Bengals’ special teams helped out the offense on Sunday after the New York Giants took a 7-0 lead.

Check out Brandon Wilson as he takes the kickoff three yards deep in the end zone and doesn’t stop until he is in the end zone at the other end of the field.

After the PAT, Cincinnati and New York were tied at 7 in the first quarter of the interconference clash.

Brandon Wilson’s brief, magical season ends on injured reserve

Bengals star kick returner Brandon Wilson heads to injured reserve.

Brandon Wilson was one of the best new developments about the Cincinnati Bengals this season.

Fitting with the theme of this downtrodden season though, the Bengals had to send Wilson to injured reserve Friday as a corresponding move after he injured his hand making a tackle in the team’s first win.

Wilson, a sixth-round pick in 2017, found himself shoved into returning duties this season after injuries to others and — like his college days — he turned out to be nothing short of superb at it

His final tally besides the team-lead in special teams tackles? Twenty returns for 625 yards and one touchdown, good for an average of 31.3. That average is an NFL best mark — and he’ll remain in contention to finish first overall because he just hit the minimum number of attempts to qualify:

The Bengals are in good hands when it comes to returns thanks to the re-debut of Darius Phillips, who is fresh off injured reserve and flashed serious upside there before getting hurt.

But the timing of the Wilson injury is a disappointing one. If nothing else, the good takeaway is the Bengals could have a seriously lethal one-two punch on special teams returns next year, if not for a long time.

[vertical-gallery id=25558]

Darius Phillips on way back to join elite-looking Bengals return game

Darius Phillips will soon join Brandon Wilson on returns.

[jwplayer uqPHPsPf-ThvAeFxT]

The Cincinnati Bengals announced cornerback Darius Phillips has been cleared to practice.

This makes the star returner and cornerback the second to return from the Reserve/Injured list this year and starts a 21-day period where he can practice with the team before counting against the active roster. He’s eligible to join the roster next week.

Call it a case of the rich get richer.

Special teams is seemingly the only place the Bengals are rich this year. Brandon Wilson has been a breakout stud on kickoff returns, taking 14 for 490 yards (35.0 average) and a score so far.

The Bengals really appear to have something there with Wilson. But Phillips is just as promising — don’t forget he had a kickoff return for a score after coaches put him in for Alex Erickson, only for a flag to negate it.

Phillips is important to the base defense too, of course. He’s got starter upside, which will be important to see in live action this year with Darqueze Dennard headed to free agency again.

But Phillips adds some more sheer entertainment value to Bengals games alongside an electric breakout like Wilson. His return could help the team win some games too.

[vertical-gallery id=24851]