Cincinnati Bengals linebacker and captain Logan Wilson said he learned Oct. 6 he'd been benched ahead of the team's trip to play the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker and captain Logan Wilson said he learned Oct. 6 that he'd been benched ahead of the team's trip to play the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Oct. 12
The numbers from the Packers game reflected that decision: Wilson, 29, played just 12 of 61 defensive snaps in the 27-18 loss. Rookie linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter took the majority of the snaps.
"I felt like I was (playing well)," Wilson said, "but obviously Zac (Taylor) felt otherwise."
With Wilson saying he disagreed with the decision, Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden said Oct. 14 that Wilson remains in the Bengals' plans. The change has resulted in what Wilson described as an adverse moment in his career, and one that forced him to focus on his leadership qualities as he'll continue to try to mentor players -- and Carter, in particular -- who are taking over his playing time.
Wilson and Golden separately addressed the benching with media members Oct. 14 at Paycor Stadium as the Bengals continued prep for their Thursday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Regarding the decision to have Carter supplant Wilson, Golden said the coaching staff wanted to see more of Carter even though that would result in the anxiety-provoking prospect of having two rookie linebackers playing side by side in Knight Jr. and Carter.
Wilson didn't seem to have a clear idea of why the decision came down, but what he was told by his coaches lined up with what Golden explained to media members.
"It was a collective thought of 'let's give Barrett a try,'" Golden said. "We'll see where we're at with him and see if it brings a different energy. But that's really it. It has nothing to do with Logan. It was just about giving Barrett an opportunity, and we'll see how it unfolds moving forward.
"... Obviously Logan's still gonna play, and he's still part of the plan. So, it wasn't really a specific thing. It was just an opportunity to take a look at Barrett and see how that goes."
Leading up to the Green Bay game, Wilson said, he reassured Carter nothing would change as far as their working relationship.
Carter, Cincinnati's fourth-round draft pick out of Clemson, would go on to play every defensive snap against Green Bay.
"I put my arm around him and I told (Barrett), I said, 'There's gonna be no hard feelings between us. Just know that I'm not gonna change who I am,'" Wilson said. "'I still want to help you out. I know I've played a lot of football and there's thing I can still pour into you.'
"I told myself I'm not gonna change who I am because of a time of adversity in my life and, you know, whenever my career is done, look back at this time of adversity and be able to tell me kids how to work through adversity like this. So, that's what I'll be the most proud of at the end of the day. I'm still gonna work to get better and just continue to support him at the end of the day because that's what a good teammate would do."
Golden indicated he was aware of Wilson's stance as far as continuing to mentor his younger teammates.
"He's an awesome human being and obviously one of our leaders," Golden said. "You really have come to expect nothing less from him. He's got incredible character and high standards. He's being a great teammate right now. Because of that, he's being a leader. He's got an opportunity to show what a leader he is, and that's what he's decided to do, which is awesome for our locker room."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Logan Wilson benched to give Barrett Carter an opportunity
Category: Football
