Bengals' Chris Evans: Can earn more snaps on offense
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Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan recently suggested Evans and Trayveon Williams will have opportunities to earn more snaps this season, Richard Skinner of Local 12 Cincinnati reports.
Callahan made his comments after the Bengals took Chase Brown in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, mentioning that Evans has only been used as a passing-game back so far but will have chances to show improvement as a ballcarrier during the preseason. Apart from the incoming fifth-round pick, Cincinnati hasn't added any other backfield depth to help replace Samaje Perine, who signed with the Broncos in free agency. Granted, the team may still add a veteran at some point, especially if starter Joe Mixon's off-field issues or cap hit become a problem. Evans and Williams are sixth-round picks -- 2021 and 2019, respectively -- with fewer than 100 combined touches in the NFL, but they look poised to open offseason practices as Nos. 2 and 3 on the depth chart in either order.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Inactive Saturday
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Evans (coach's decision) is inactive for Saturday's matchup with the Patriots.
With Joe Mixon, Samaje Perine and Trayveon Williams ahead of him on the depth chart and active, Evans will again be a healthy scratch for the Bengals. The 25-year-old has suited up just four times this season and has not suited up since Week 13.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Not active against Browns
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Evans (coach's decision) is inactive Week 14 against the Browns.
Evans has been used as a depth running back option this year, but he typically sees most of his work on special teams. With Joe Mixon returning from a concussion this week, the Bengals will elect to keep Trayveon Williams active as the presumed RB3, with Evans now a healthy scratch.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Game-winning touchdown
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Evans caught the game-winning touchdown pass in Sunday's win over the Chiefs on an eight-yard play in the flats in the fourth quarter.
That was the only touch for Evans in the game, but he made it count. Even if Joe Mixon (concussion) does not return next week, Evans will play only a small role in the offense.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Zero touches
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Evans was held without a carry or catch in Sunday's win over the Titans.
More importantly, teammate Trayveon Williams did contribute offensively, with two carries and a catch. Evans also committed a bad penalty on a "pick" play in the first quarter, wiping out a big Tee Higgins catch-and-run.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Suiting up Sunday
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Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Evans (knee) is good to go for Sunday's game against the Titans, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.
Evans will return to the field for the first time since Week 9, with his knee injury keeping him sidelined for the Bengals' last two games. Though he's seen most of his work on special teams this season, Evans could have more of a role on offense in Week 12 while top back Joe Mixon (concussion) is sidelined. Samaje Perine is slated to pick up the start, while Evans could serve as the primary change-of-pace option behind him. The Bengals also have Trayveon Williams on hand for backfield depth, though he's more likely to be deployed as a runner than a pass catcher.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Listed as full participant
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Evans (knee) was listed as a full participant on Thursday's practice report, Jay Morrison of The Athletic reports.
Evans missed last week's win over the Steelers due to a knee injury and was limited at practice Wednesday, but he appears to be back to full health ahead of Sunday's game in Tennessee. Joe Mixon is in the league's concussion protocol, so it's possible Evans will take on a starting role in Week 12.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Logs limited practice Wednesday
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Evans (knee) was limited at practice Wednesday ahead of Sunday's game at Tennessee, Jay Morrison of The Athletic reports.
With regular starting running back Joe Mixon in concussion protocol, Evans could be in line to serve as Cincinnati's primary backup in Week 12, but he'll need to make it onto the field himself first. Getting onto the practice field Wednesday is a good start, though a full session Thursday or Friday would help to solidify his status ahead of Sunday.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Won't play Week 11
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Evans (knee) has been ruled inactive ahead of Sunday's game against the Steelers, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Evans was considered questionable to play against Pittsburgh after injuring the PCL in his right knee against Carolina in Week 9. While he had some extra time to recover coming off the Bengals' Week 10 bye, he'll ultimately be sidelined until at least the team's next contest against Tennessee on Sunday, Nov. 27. With Evans out, expect Trayveon Williams to serve as Cincinnati's third-string running back while Trent Taylor handles kick-return duties.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Iffy for Sunday
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Evans (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers, Jay Morrison of The Athletic reports.
Evans sustained a knee injury during Cincinnati's Week 9 win over the Panthers, but he was ultimately given some extra time to recover with the team's Week 10 bye. The 25-year-old practiced in a limited fashion in each of the Bengals' sessions heading into Sunday's contest versus Pittsburgh, but if he's eventually ruled out this weekend, Trent Taylor would be the likely candidate to handle kick returns.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Limited Wednesday
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Evans (knee) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Evans left the team's Week 9 matchup against Carolina due to a knee injury and was considered week-to-week after being diagnosed with a PCL injury. Cincinnati's Week 10 bye appears to have been beneficial for the second-year return man, but he'll likely have to log at least one full participation over the next two days to be cleared for Sunday's matchup against Pittsburgh.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Week-to-week with PCL issue
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Evans is considered week-to-week after suffering a PCL injury during Sunday's win over the Panthers, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Evans departed Sunday's matchup versus Carolina with an apparent knee injury, after he logged just one offensive snap and four special-teams opportunities in the contest. If the second-year pro is unable to gain medical clearance before Cincinnati's Week 11 game against Pittsburgh, then Trent Taylor appears next in line to handle kick returns.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Suffers injury Sunday
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Evans was ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Panthers with a right knee injury.
Evans appears to have sustained a significant injury at some point during the first half of this contest, though the exact nature of this issue is still unclear. The second-year running back has yet to record a rush in 2022, though he's served as the Bengals' primary kick returner this season. With Evans out, Trent Taylor should be next in line to handle kickoffs for Cincinnati. The running back's next opportunity to play will come Nov. 20 against the Steelers.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Minimal role continues
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Evans caught one pass for four yards in Sunday's win over the Jets.
Evans is still looking for his first carry of the season, and he managed only two offensive snaps in this one. It'll take an injury to either Joe Mixon or Samaje Perine before Evans has a chance at a meaningful offensive role.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Relegated to special teams
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Evans didn't log a single offensive snap in the Bengals' 23-20 overtime loss to the Steelers on Sunday.
All 21 of Evans' snaps came on special teams, an indication that he's clearly behind Samaje Perine (23 offensive snaps) as Joe Mixon's backup.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Struggles in run game continue
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Evans rushed five times for 10 yards and caught both of his targets for nine yards in Saturday's 16-7 preseason win over the Rams.
Evans started once again with Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine continuing to sit, but the second-year running back struggled once again on the ground. Evans finishes the preseason with just 10 rushing yards on 18 attempts, so his contributions in the regular season will likely be limited to special teams and passing situations on offense.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Stuck in mud in run game
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Evans rushed five times for three yards and caught all three of his targets for seven yards in Sunday's 25-22 preseason loss to the Giants. He also had a 73-yard kickoff return.
Evans got the start at running back with Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine both taking the night off, but the second-year pro out of Michigan didn't make much of an impact offensively. With a total of zero rushing yards on 13 attempts, Evans isn't making much of a case to supplant Perine as Mixon's primary backup, but Evans' ability to contribute on special teams makes him a lock for the Bengals' roster. Evans showed off his return skills on his lone attempt in this one, setting up a second quarter Evan McPherson field goal by getting the ball all the way down to the Giants' 24-yard line.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Returns kicks
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Evans had only one carry for nine yards in Saturday's playoff win over the Raiders, but he also had 103 kick-return yards.
Evans showed some of his offensive versatility in Week 18 against the Browns, but with Joe Mixon back in the driver's seat, Evans' biggest impact is on special teams.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Records receiving TD in finale
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Evans rushed seven times for 35 yards and brought in four of five targets for 24 yards in the Bengals' 21-16 loss to the Browns on Sunday.
The rookie checked in second in carries to Trayveon Williams with Joe Mixon (reserve/COVID-19) unavailable and Samaje Perine active but not logging any touches. Evans was able to record his second NFL touchdown in the same manner -- through the air -- as his first back in Week 6 when he recorded a four-yard scoring grab with 2:26 remaining in the contest. Despite the uptick in activity Sunday, Evans will almost certainly revert back to a healthy scratch or special-teams work when the postseason begins for the Bengals with a wild-card matchup against a to-be-determined opponent Saturday afternoon.
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Bengals' Chris Evans: Barely active
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Evans played only two offensive snaps and didn't touch the ball in Sunday's 34-31 win over the Chiefs.
It was a tight game all along, so the Bengals mostly relied on Joe Mixon with occasional appearances from Samaje Perine. Evans could be a lot more involved in the regular season finale at Cleveland next week.
