Eric Winston latest 'next man up' for Bengals

Few teams have played musical chairs as frenetically as the Cincinnati Bengals this season.

And while they’ve hit four sharp notes comparable to the sounds of a shrieking cat, also known as blowout losses, the Bengals’ concerted effort to triumph over injuries has been impressive, and important, overall.

The latest “next man up” example is Eric Winston.

One pressing issue throughout the Bengals’ 24-3 debacle against Cleveland on Nov. 6 was Marshall Newhouse’s magnified inability to help protect quarterback Andy Dalton, partially leading to Dalton’s worst career performance. Newhouse had replaced injured right tackle Andre Smith.

The Bengals are 4-1 since then, the most recent win a 30-0 redemptive victory over the Browns.

While Newhouse has noticeably improved, he’s slid into a backup role.

Clint Boling has started at right tackle since Dec. 7, but the Bengals had also signed Winston that week.

Winston was one of several unsung MVPs, in my opinion, as the Bengals prolonged their stay atop the AFC North.

The 6-foot-7, 302-pound tackle spent six seasons in Houston before a season apiece in Kansas City and Arizona. The 31-year-old didn’t have a home in 2014 until Cincinnati came calling.


(dailyindependent.com)