Bengals defensive stalwart Logan Wilson addresses benching

CINCINNATI — A transfer that had been within the works for weeks was lastly made Sunday.

The Cincinnati Bengals benched veteran linebacker Logan Wilson in favor of rookie Barrett Carter. Each Wilson and Carter technically received the beginning within the loss to the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Nonetheless, Wilson was off the sector in any two-linebacker units and did not play any defensive snaps within the second half except for a kneel-down within the remaining minute.

Wilson was requested by reporters Tuesday whether or not he thought he was nonetheless performing effectively sufficient to begin.

“I felt like I used to be,” Wilson mentioned. “However clearly [Bengals coach] Zac [Taylor] felt in any other case.”

Since being drafted in 2020, Wilson has developed into one among Cincinnati’s core defensive gamers. He has been a starter since 2021 and is in the midst of a four-year, $36 million contract. That deal runs via the top of the 2027 season.

Wilson mentioned the change was finalized early final week and that there have been no onerous emotions towards Carter, a fourth-round select of Clemson. The transfer had been foreshadowed earlier within the season.

Within the crew’s Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Wilson was subbed off the sector in favor of Carter. On the time, the transfer was communicated as a strategy to take snaps off the sixth-year veteran.

However Wilson nonetheless understood that it meant uncertainty concerning his future standing with the membership.

“I can not management what their plan is transferring ahead,” Wilson advised ESPN on Sept. 25. “I am simply making an attempt to regulate doing my job to the perfect of my means on every play and serving to this protection out the perfect I can.”

Towards the Packers, a 27-18 defeat and Cincinnati’s fourth straight loss, the Bengals opted to roll with Carter alongside fellow rookie Demetrius Knight Jr., who has been the crew’s different main beginning linebacker. Carter performed all 61 defensive snaps towards Inexperienced Bay. Wilson performed 20% of them.

On Monday, Taylor mentioned the crew will proceed with Carter.

“Anytime you set a rookie on the market, there’s a component of threat to it,” Taylor mentioned. “When are you going to reveal your self to that threat? Are you going to do it sooner fairly than later?

“I simply felt he is proven sufficient to [have us] proceed to work via it. We will see fixed enchancment each single sport.”

Carter mentioned his objective is to do what he can to win video games and assist Cincinnati snap its four-game skid. Because the crew transitions to Carter from Wilson, the rookie mentioned he’ll proceed to lean on the veteran all through the method.

“It doesn’t matter what the coaches determine to do, it is less than me, it is less than him,” Carter mentioned. “However we each love one another. We each go to struggle with one another.”