The Cincinnati Bengals’ aggressive approach in training camp this year has opened the door for other members of the talented roster, most notably third-year wide receiver Andrei Iosivas.
Looking to officially claim his role as the Bengals’ WR3 next to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Iosivas has been drawing attention with his rapid improvement and standout plays during practice sessions. His deep touchdown catch from Joe Burrow on Tuesday was another clear statement.
“I’m still trying to learn those underneath routes trying to catch in traffic and not be too overzealous with it yet,” Iosivas said. “Sometimes it’s better just to secure it, than to just run with it. But once I get a feel for that, I feel my game is growing more and more every day, so I’m really happy,” Iosivas said.
The former sixth-round pick out of Princeton didn’t appear in the Bengals’ Week 1 preseason matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, there’s still a possibility that he could play extensive time with the starters in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders before lacing it up for real in the regular season.
Joe Burrow Taking Notice During First-Team Reps
Iosivas’ journey to the NFL wasn’t typical. Coming from an Ivy League school where the competition level is different from major programs, many questioned whether his athleticism would translate to the pros in 2023. But he has steadily proved those doubts wrong.
Early in his Bengals career, his biggest limitation was making contested catches in tight coverage. Now, that’s one of his strengths. Joe Burrow highlighted this evolution early in training camp.
“The contested catches, when he first came here, was not his strong suit,” Burrow said. “He’s turned it into a strength of his game.”
The wide receiver’s natural speed and agility come from his track background at Princeton, but it’s his dedication to improving football-specific skills that’s making the biggest difference.
This camp, Iosivas is running sharper routes, displaying more consistent hands, and showing better awareness of the field.
It’s more than matching head coach Zac Taylor’s mentality for both the offense and defense ahead of a massive prove-it campaign in 2025-26.
What’s Next In Bengals Camp?
The Bengals offense is moving at a faster pace and showing more precision than in previous years, thanks in part to Burrow’s aggressive play and the team’s emphasis on tempo.
Burrow has been targeting receivers in tight windows, pushing the offense to sharpen its timing and execution. Iosivas’ growth is a perfect match for this style.
“I’ve talked about this a little bit before but I never play in that slot,” Iosivas said. “So now that I can be there and really my overall game as a blocker, as a pass catcher, as a route runner, it’s just expanding every single day.”
The 25-year-old wideout is also playing at a standard weight (208 pounds) for his NFL role, and he’s mentioned how comfortable he’s been with Burrow this offseason.
It’ll be interesting to see how this translates to the game field when it’s officially time.
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