Undrafted long-snapper William Wagner may not get a lot of votes for Bengals Rookie of the Year with linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter heading into Sunday's season finale (1 p.m.-Cincinnati's Local 12) at Paycor Stadium against the Browns as the second and third rookie tacklers, respectively, in the NFL.
Or with left guard Dylan Fairchild playing nearly 900 snaps for the NFL's sixth-best passing offense.
But the Michigan-bred Wagner has been just as key with his accurate snapping that has helped spawn Evan McPherson's career-high 89.3 field-goal percentage and Ryan Rehkow's effort at breaking his team records from last year's rookie season.
It was during that season that Rehkow, a neophyte holder in the NFL scheme, and incumbent long-snapper Cal Adomitis struggled at times as McPherson offered a career-low 72.7% for a variety of reasons.
One of them was the operation and special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons has been rewarded for sticking with Wagner in the training camp derby with Adomitis.
"We haven't had to think about the snap all year," Rehkow says. "I think I'm definitely getting better at holding, but Will has done a really good job stepping in and doing everything we've asked."
The punt snaps have been good enough that Rehkow is contending for the NFL punt yardage title at 51.1 yards per punt, ahead of his club-record 49.1 of last season. He's 11th in the league in net punting at 42.9, which would tie his net record.
McPherson, out of Fort Payne, Ala., has developed a bond with Wagner, from suburban Atlanta.
"He's from my part of the country," McPherson said. "He's fun to be around. Very energetic. He's like a little teddy bear."
But Wagner is no cub when it comes to accuracy. Simmons put a premium on that, and Wagner has delivered.
"It's all about accuracy," said McPherson, and Rehkow agrees.
"I don't think speed is as big as accuracy in terms of the overall operation," Rehkow says. "The snap is somewhere between .7 and 65 seconds. Not much difference. But you can be faster when you don't worry about adjusting the laces. There's not much of that with Will."
Wagner chalks up an almost seamless transition to being in a pro-style system in Ann Arbor.
"Really, not much of an adjustment when I came in," said Wagner, who snapped for Jay Harbaugh, son of Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh and worked for uncle John Harbaugh with the Ravens before going to coordinate the Michigan special teams.
"I had been around NFL special teams coaches, and I knew what the standard was," Wagner said. "And I think it helps that I can block."
Home Sweet Home
Since 2012, the Bengals are 7-1 when the last game of the season is at Paycor. Four of those wins came against Ravens teams quarterbacked by Joe Flacco, the Bengals' backup on Sunday.
All-Pro wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase always makes sure to try and Send 'Em Home Happy. According to NFL stat man Ryan Michael, Chase continues to obliterate his own home records.
With 71 home catches this year, Chase has already broken his club record of 59 from last season that he shared with Carl Pickens' 1996 Riverfront Stadium mark.
Chase needs 116 yards against the Browns to break the home record of 945 yards that he set in 2021. He broke Cris Collinsworth's record of 831 home yards in 1985.
Slants And Screens
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said running back Chase Brown is good to go when he went full Friday after missing the previous two days with an illness …
Brown needs 53 yards for his first 1,000-yard rushing season in the pros. He came so close in his second season last year (990), but missed the finale with an ankle injury …
Defensive tackle B.J. Hill (ankle) is listed as questionable, but he went limited Friday after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday …
Taylor ruled out three that didn't play in last Sunday's win over the Cards: Edge Joseph Ossai (ankle), cornerback Josh Newton (hamstring), and tight end Cam Grandy (chest) …
It figures that safety Jordan Battle has starred in The Battle of Ohio. Three of his six career interceptions have come against the Browns off three different quarterbacks: Old friend Jeff Driskel, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and he got Flacco on this Opening Day back on Sept. 7 …
Three of his four picks this year have come in division games …
