Cosby has played in every game of his Bengals career, establishing himself as a key special teams performer while making strides on offense … Has averaged 10.0 yards over two seasons as the team’s No. 1 punt returner, and having met the required minimum of 50 returns, he enters 2011 as the all-time franchise leader in return avg. … Started slowly on punt returns last season, but stepped up his production over the last five games, averaging 12.8 yards on 10 returns … Averaged 11.9 yards on 40 returns as a rookie in 2009, ranking third in AFC … Also a productive tackler and blocker on special teams … His 10 special teams tackles last season ranked third on team.
Cosby has played in every game of his Bengals career, establishing himself as a key special teams performer while making strides on offense … Has averaged 10.0 yards over two seasons as the team’s No. 1 punt returner, and having met the required minimum of 50 returns, he enters 2011 as the all-time franchise leader in return avg. … Started slowly on punt returns last season, but stepped up his production over the last five games, averaging 12.8 yards on 10 returns … Averaged 11.9 yards on 40 returns as a rookie in 2009, ranking third in AFC … Also a productive tackler and blocker on special teams … His 10 special teams tackles last season ranked third on team.
AHEAD BY JUST A HAIR: Cosby’s official 10.0-yard career punt return average is the result of standard rounding up from his exact figure — 9.986. He has 699 yards on 70 career returns. He has moved into the club’s all-time lead ahead of Mike Martin, whose 9.9 career average is rounded up from an actual figure of 9.864.
SECURITY BY QUAN: Over 2009-10, Cosby has handled 110 punt return opportunities (70 returns and 40 fair catches) without a lost muff or fumble.
MORE 2010 HIGHLIGHTS: Averaged 8.4 yards on five punt returns in win Sept. 26 at Carolina … Returned two punts with 12.0 avg. Oct. 31 vs. Miami … Five-yard catch Nov. 21 vs. Buffalo … Returned two punts with 15.0 avg. Dec. 5 vs. New Orleans, including 19-yarder to Saints 44 that set up go-ahead FG late in fourth quarter … Also had two special teams tackles vs. New Orleans … Averaged 11.5 yards on two punt returns Dec. 12 at Pittsburgh … Averaged 13.0 yards on two punt returns Dec. 19 vs. Cleveland, and had 11-yard catch to convert third down on second-quarter drive for FG that put Bengals ahead to stay at 10-7 … Also vs. Cleveland, led team with three special teams tackles and recovered onside kick late in fourth quarter to seal win … Averaged 12.3 yards on four punt returns Jan. 2 at Baltimore.
PREVIOUS SEASONS: 2009 - His 11.9-yard punt return average was Bengals’ highest since an NFL-leading 15.7 by Mike Martin in 1984 … His 474 total punt return yards led the NFL in 2009 and broke Bengals season-record of 376 set by Martin in 1984 … Also led NFL in total returns (40), second in Bengals history to Patrick Robinson’s 43 in 1993 … Had 13 kickoff returns, with an 18.4-yard average … On Sept. 20 at Green Bay, his 60-yard punt return to Packers 6-yard line set up a second-quarter TD, and he had a 32-yarder to Packers 29 in fourth quarter, setting up FG for a two-score lead … On Dec. 6 vs. Detroit, averaged 18.0 yards on three punt returns … Handled kickoff returns in place of the injured Bernard Scott on Dec. 13 at Minnesota and Dec. 20 at San Diego (combined 11-for 201; 18.3 avg.) … Caught three passes for 47 yards Dec. 20 at San Diego, including a 23-yarder to the San Diego 16 in the fourth quarter to set up FG that tied the score at 24-24 … Had a 40-yard punt return Jan. 3 at N.Y. Jets.
BLOCK PARTY: Though Cosby has earned most of his NFL notice as a punt returner, he also contributes without the ball in his hands. A play from his 2009 rookie year stands out. On Bernard Scott’s 96-yard kickoff return for a TD Nov. 15 at Pittsburgh, Cosby made a clearing block near the Bengals 10-yard line and then sprinted ahead of Scott to make two more key blocks near the Steelers 20. Special teams coach Darrin Simmons said, “In my years in the NFL, that’s the single biggest effort play I’ve seen.”
COLLEGE: Played four seasons (2005-08) at Texas, finishing second in Longhorns career receptions (212), third in receiving yards (2598) and fourth in receiving TDs (19) … Played 52 games with 35 starts … Averaged 23.7 yards on 73 kickoff returns and 11.3 yards on 33 punt returns … Played in every game as a freshman as Texas capped 13-0 national championship season with Rose Bowl win over then-No. 1 USC … Consensus first-team All-Big 12 as a senior, with 92 catches for 1123 yards and 10 TDs.
LATE FOOTBALL STARTER: Cosby played four years (2001-04) of pro baseball, as an outfielder in the Angels farm system, before starting his college football career. He played two rookie league and two Class A seasons, batting .260 over 340 games.
PERSONAL: Born in Waco, Texas, and grew up in nearby Mart, Texas … Attended Mart High School, where he was a two-time Class 2A all-state football selection at QB and DB … Batted .479 as a prep senior in baseball, and won state track titles in 100 and 200 meters … A social work major at Texas, he earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2008 … Twin brother, Quincy, played football at Baylor … First name is pronounced “Kwahn.”
