For years, the Cincinnati Bengals passing attack has been one of the most dynamic in the NFL. When quarterback Joe Burrow is healthy and playing well, few can stand up to the Bengals’ vaunted passing attack. Number one wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has established himself as one of the top receivers in the league. Tee Higgins has provided a great complement to Chase, turning in multiple 1,000 yard seasons himself. Tyler Boyd completed the trio as one of the best third-options in the league.
The Bengals offense struggled last year, as Burrow struggled to stay healthy, and as a result they had a disappointing season. In the offseason, Burrow got healthy, but the offense lost Boyd to the Tennessee Titans. They’ll be looking for someone to step up and replace that production. Could that someone be 2023 sixth-round pick Andrei Iosivas?
Iosivas was largely unheralded after the 2022 season coming out of Princeton University. He arrived at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL, and dominated at practices, garnering some major spotlight and opening eyes. The Bengals took notice and drafted him in the sixth round, but were unable to find much playing time for him in his rookie season. Iosivas finished his rookie campaign with just 15 receptions and 116 yards, but did pull down an impressive four touchdowns.
All indications out of Bengals training camp so far this summer would seem to say that’s about to change. Iosivas has been one of the highlight players of the first week of Bengals camp, and has been raved about by many, including his quarterback:
"@AndreiIosivas is gonna have a big year... He's able to do it all."
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 1, 2024
Big predictions for the second-year WR! pic.twitter.com/5OBHKbN0Hg
Stories like this always pop up during training camp, and frequently things play out differently when the season actually rolls around, so it’s important to take these things with a grain of salt. But from all indications, it looks like the young receiver is making a big impression this year and may be first in line to step up and fill the void left in Boyd’s wake as the WR3.
