Originally a 2017 sixth-round draft pick of Bengals, Evans has earned role as a core special teams player and reserve LB ... Played all 16 games for second straight season in 2020, and has missed just three games in his four seasons ... Saw action on team-high 344 special teams snaps, and recorded four ST tackles ... Despite seeing just 61 snaps on defense, recorded two sacks, an INT and a FR ... Enters 2021 with 60 career games played, 105 tackles, 3.5 sacks, seven PDs and two INTs on defense, along with 17 tackles on special teams.
Career transactions: Selected by Cincinnati in sixth round of 2017 NFL Draft (193rd overall) ... Signed with Bengals on 5-15-17 ... Bengals contract expired on 3-17-21; became unrestricted free agent ... Re-signed with Bengals as unrestricted free agent on 3-28-21.
2020 highlights: Played in 15 games (no starts) ... Inactive for Game 15 at Houston (hamstring) ... Spent Nov. 7-11 on Reserve/COVID-19 list, however that stretch fell during Bengals' Week 9 bye, so he did not miss game action ... Played 61 snaps on defense and recorded seven tackles, two sacks, an INT and a FR ... Saw action on team-high 344 special snaps, and had four special teams tackles ... Played just 12 snaps on defense on Oct. 4 vs. Jacksonville, but made two of Cincinnati's most impactful defensive plays — intercepted Jaguars QB Gardner Minshew on the game's opening drive, and sacked Minshew on a third-and-seven in the fourth quarter to hold Jacksonville to a FG and preserve Cincinnati's two-score lead ... On Dec. 13 vs. Dallas, sacked QB Andy Dalton for a 10-yard loss on a third-and-eight, forcing the Cowboys to settle for a 55-yard FG.
Previous seasons: 2017—Played in 15 games, with four starts ... Inactive on Oct. 1 at Cleveland with a hamstring injury ... All four starts came in last five weeks of season while filling in for various injured starters ... Led all Bengals rookies in tackles (33) and added two PDs ... Had five special teams tackles ... Had season-high 10 tackles on Dec. 10 vs. Chicago, including two TFLs. 2018—Played in 14 games, with five starts ... Suffered left ankle injury in Game 14 vs. Oakland, and was inactive for Game 15 and placed on Reserve/Injured list on Dec. 28, two days prior to season finale ... Finished season with 59 tackles on defense, including 1.5 sacks, three PDs and one INT ... Saw time on 45.2 percent of defensive snaps ... Also had two special teams tackles ... Recorded season-high 11 tackles Oct. 28 vs. Tampa Bay, including 1.5 sacks (first career sack), and intercepted Buccaneers' QB Jameis Winston (first career INT). 2019—Played in all 16 games ... Served as a valuable contributor on special teams, where saw action on 68.6 percent of snaps ... Saw action on 75 snaps on defense, serving in a reserve LB role ... Totaled six tackles on special teams (tied for third on team), along with six tackles and a PD on defense ... On Nov. 10 at Baltimore, aided blocking effort that sprung KOR Brandon Wilson for a 92-yard kickoff return TD ... Recovered critical onside kick with 29 seconds remaining on Dec. 22 at Miami, giving the Bengals the ball back to allow the offense to drive for a dramatic game-tying TD that forced overtime.
College: Played four seasons (2013-16) at Oklahoma, and totaled 286 tackles, including 22 TFLs, with 3.5 sacks, five INTs, four FFs and three FRs ... As a senior, earned first-team All-Big 12 honors (coaches and AP) after totaling 98 tackles, including 10 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, four INTs (two returned for TDs), one FF, one FR and eight pass breakups.
Personal: Hometown is Norman, Okla. ... Attended Norman North High School, where he totaled 94 tackles, nine sacks, two FFs and a FR as senior ... Also excelled as return specialist with four career KOR TDs and two PR TDs ... Majored in Arts and Sciences Planned Program at Oklahoma ... Was First-Team Academic All-Big 12 in 2014 and second-team in '15 ... Father, Scott, was three-time all-conference defensive tackle at Oklahoma (1988-90) ... Scott Evans also grew up in Cincinnati before moving to Oklahoma in middle school.
