The Cincinnati Bengals brought in UDFA Ryan Rehkow from BYU after the NFL Draft to compete against incumbent Brad Robbins for the starting punting job. When Robbins injured his hip in training camp, the door was wide open for the former Cougar to try to win the job outright. Well, that’s exactly what happened with the Bengals waiving Robbins yesterday. Rehkow deserved to win the competition and has been fantastic in averaging 58.4 yards per punt through four games, putting him on an NFL record-setting pace. Let’s examine how Cincinnati’s new weapon could help the team win games this season.
Ryan Rehkow Is a Weapon for the Bengals
College Career
Rehkow has fantastic size at 6’5″ and 235 pounds and spent four years in Provo where he had a solid career with notable accolades. In his career, he was the Big 12’s leader in punting average with 48.4 yards per punt—more than two yards more than next in the Big 12 (No. 2 nationally). He also led the Big 12 in punts of 50 yards or more and was tied for the lead in the Big 12 in punts inside the 20 (25). Lastly, Rehkow was a 2023 ESPN All-America Second Team member and made the Ray Guy Award watch list in three consecutive years, 2021, 2022, and 2023, which goes to the best collegiate punter in the nation.
Flip Out
With the Bengals’ defense struggling over the last four games, winning the field position battle is even more critical. Rehkow has been up to the task from the jump and has consistently flipped the field to make life difficult for opposing offenses.
Ryan Rehkow nuke pic.twitter.com/0DwxTXOPTs
— mike (@bengals_sans) September 30, 2024
This ability to be a true weapon at punter is something the Bengals have lacked for quite a while. Rehkow has earned the trust of his teammates and coaching staff as a player who can be counted on in times of need. Look for his confidence to keep growing as the pressure is off since he won the job.
Step It Up
Like any position, you need players to step up in big moments. This notion goes for punters also as evidenced by Rehkow’s huge punt against the Carolina Panthers. Head coach Zac Taylor knows how impressive Rehkow has been thus far as he stated after the game, “He stepped up big. I thought the coverage units were really good, too, to be able to get down there, particularly the gunners, and go cover those punts. That’s pinning them down there and allowing us to capitalize on our next possession. That’s a big weapon to have.”
The importance of the powerful leg of Rehkow will continue to come to the forefront in the divisional games beginning this Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, where possessions are of the utmost importance. The Bengals can only hope their new punter stays hot and on an upward trajectory. Winning the AFC North might depend on it.
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