Noah Fant is ready to take the next step with the Cincinnati Bengals, and Monday’s Week 2 preseason matchup against the Washington Commanders offers a key springboard ahead of a pivotal year.
Fant has been turning heads in training camp, especially from inside the 10- to 20-yard line. During Saturday’s session, he hauled in touchdowns on two consecutive snaps during a Bengals 7-on-7 period.
His innate ability to create separation in one-on-ones, adjust mid-air and snag the football over defenders is exactly what the franchise wanted to see. Adding the former first-round tight end has given Joe Burrow another reliable security blanket to take some of the pressure away from Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Fant Could Bring Matchup Problems for Defenses
Many fans wondered if Fant’s red-zone prowess would find its way to Cincinnati when he signed with the team on July 31.
So far, the six-year veteran is living up to the hype that he had when he hit free agency this summer.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed on Saturday that the starters, including Joe Burrow, will play “a good portion of the first quarter” against Washington. That gives Fant a golden opportunity to get more comfortable before the regular season kicks off.
With a sturdy TE room that already features Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample, Fant could have the biggest upside.
Bengals’ New TE1?
The fit with Burrow almost feels destined. In 2022, Fant watched Burrow lead the Bengals past the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship. Now, he gets to line up in the same offense he’s paid a close eye on in recent years.
“I’ve kind of admired his game from afar,” Fant said of Burrow following Tuesday’s practice, per John Breech of CBS Sports. “Being able to get on the field with him, catch some passes, it’s really cool to see how sharp he is, how smart he is, how decisive. He’s a great quarterback. It’s been really cool being a part of that. Hopefully, I can keep contributing whichever way I’m asked to keep earning his trust.”
Fant has finished with at least 500 receiving yards in four of his six NFL season.. Now, paired with Burrow in the Bengals offense, his full potential could finally be unleashed. Already one of the league’s most loaded offenses with Burrow, Chase, and Higgins, Fant’s addition only makes them more dangerous.
“He gives you even more flexibility. You’ve got a player that’s really a plus player in both the run and the pass,” Taylor said. “At the point of attack, blocking out of the backfield for protection he can help you, but also really explosive as a receiver.”
If he can learn the playbook quickly and maintain his red-zone efficiency, he could be a key factor in Cincinnati’s offensive success this season.
Monday night against the Commanders will be the first real glimpse of Fant in action with Burrow and the starters. Even in limited action, all eyes will be on him to see how quickly he can translate his practice dominance into weekly production for the upcoming Bengals season.
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