A Snap Count Breakdown from the Bengals' Loss to the Colts
CINCINNATI — The Bengals blew a 21-point first half lead in Sunday's 31-27 loss to the Colts. They fall to 1-4-1 on the season.
Here's a look at the playtime percentage and snap counts for each player on the team.
Not pictured: Hakeem Adeniji and Billy Price took six (21%) special teams snaps
For a second-straight game, rookie Tee Higgins played more snaps (59) than any other Bengals wide receiver. He was the only Bengals' skill player that was on the field 80% of the time.
A.J. Green was right behind him with 58 snaps (79%) and Tyler Boyd was on the field for 57 plays (78%).
With Auden Tate (shoulder) out, there was some speculation that John Ross could have a role on offense. Instead, veteran Mike Thomas manned that role. He was on the field for 26 snaps (36%) and finished with one catch for 10 yards on three targets.
Ross was on the field for one offensive play and wasn't targeted. The fourth-year wide receiver wasn't a part of Zac Taylor's game plan. Alex Erickson played more on Sunday, appearing in three offensive plays (4%).
Tight end Cethan Carter was on the field for 10 more plans than he was in Week 5. The team clearly wanted more balance between him and rookie Drew Sample, who was on the field for 63 snaps (94%) against the Ravens. Sample still took the bulk of snaps at tight end (55), but his playtime percentage dropped to 75%.
On defense, eight-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Geno Atkins was only on the field for 19 plays (30%). It was the exact same number of snaps that he played in last week in his season debut.
“No, he played on third downs," Taylor said when asked about Atkins potentially re-aggravating his shoulder injury. "He was in there on third downs, I know that.”
Xavier Williams (34) and Christian Covington (34) were on the field more than Atkins. The Bengals signed Williams last week after DJ Reader was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending quad injury.
That wasn't the only questionable decision. Veteran Carlos Dunlap was only on the field for 28 plays (44%), even though Sam Hubbard was out for the season. Amani Bledsoe got more playing time than Dunlap.
The two-time Pro Bowler voiced his frustration on Sunday night.
Veteran cornerback LeShaun Sims out-snapped Darius Phillips 34-30.
The Bengals' defensive rotation is questionable at best. The same goes for the wide receiver room.
If they're going to get over the hump and win games like the one they played on Sunday, then they're going to have to start relying on their most talented players.
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