NFL Trade Rumors
Bengals WR Andrei Iosivas had five receptions for 82 yards in Cincinnati’s Week 5 loss to the Lions. Cincinnati OC Dan Pitcher praised Iosivas for his performance.
“Really happy with Drei’s play yesterday,” Pitcher said, via Jay Morrison of Sports Illustrated. “(He) was great after the catch. Made a contested play on the slot fade.”
As for Iosivas only having two catches for six yards going into Week 5, HC Zac Taylor responded that his lack of production has to do with their game plan for him in those previous games.
“That’s us. That’s not an Andrei thing,” Taylor said. “He has done everything he can to create an opportunity for himself whether it’s run blocking or blocking down the field on scrambles, whether that’s one on one when we were getting both guys doubled yesterday. Put them on the same side of the field and let Andrei work one on one.”
Pitcher feels Iosivas proved he deserves more opportunities.
“Drei is about all the right stuff, doesn’t say anything,” Pitcher said. “I’m sure there’s parts of Drei that wishes he’s had more opportunity than he’s had so far this year. I’m sure if I was him, that’s how I would feel. It’s a challenge to get the opportunities to everybody that deserve them, but he proved yesterday that he deserves them. So definitely we’ve got to find ways to continue to incorporate him.”
Browns second-round RB Quinshon Judkins has been impressive with 72 rushing attempts for 347 yards and two touchdowns, hitting the ground running in a literal sense after missing everything between minicamp and Week 1. Steelers HC Mike Tomlin highly praised the rookie back, saying he’s the type of player who can wear down a defense.
“I can’t say enough about what I’m seeing from Judkins,” Tomlin said Jim Wexell of the team’s site. “He had absolutely no training camp to speak of, and that really highlights what it is we’re looking at. Kudos to him and kudos to them for what he and they are able to produce. He is a tough runner. He’s good inside. He’s got good patience and picking vision on interior running. He finishes off his runs with violence. He’s underrated in terms of his ability to bounce it to the perimeter and pop long ones. He had a 60-yarder or so that got called back in London last week that kind of highlights that. I’ve seen this guy a lot. Obviously, we got a couple of his teammates from O State, and so I’ve seen a lot of his video. Man, he is a complete back. He’s the type of guy that can wear a defensive unit down. Certainly fits their mold as an awesome replacement, if you will, for Nick Chubb, and I think it’s going to do nothing but get better with him and them.”
