The NFL preseason is the proving grounds for all kinds of NFL players. Rookies looking to leave their mark, former high draft picks trying to reclaim relevancy, and long-time veterans just hoping to latch on. The Cincinnati Bengals have all three prototypes on their roster.

More than anything, playing actual games will be a chance to validate the players who have impressed thus far in training camp. Stacking quality practices with quality in-game action is a recipe to not only make the Week 1 roster, but to earn a larger role in the regular season.



In tonight's exhibition against the Green Bay Packers, these players would greatly benefit from

3 Bengals Who Need To Shine vs. Packers

RB Chris Evans

A make-or-break offseason for Evans was helped out by Trayveon Williams’ ankle injury that will sideline him for a little while longer. Evans has been taking reps directly behind starter Joe Mixon during practice, and will see plenty of snaps against the Packers in all facets of offense and special teams.

The mere presence of rookie Chase Brown, a virtual lock for the roster, puts pressure on Evans to perform well. His previous shortcomings in August have capped his placement on past depth charts. Showing growth as a runner and value on special teams will make it much harder for the coaches to drop him down the order again.

G Jaxson Kirkland

For once, things appear stable and calm with the Bengals’ offensive line. The lone rookie in the picture is Kirkland, an undrafted free agent signing out of Washington who’s had literal highs and lows in camp. The highs being how well he’s using his tremendous size (6-7, 328), the lows being how that size how that size is getting him into trouble every now and then.

Playing with proper pad level will make Kirkland an asset as a backup guard. If he plays too high, he will get exposed even by backup defensive linemen. The Bengals are open to multiple scenarios as to how the interior of their o-line looks behind starters Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, and Cordell Volson. A solid performance from Kirkland tonight can accelerate his name further into the conversation.

CB Sidney Jones

Signed this offseason on a cheap one-year deal, Jones has been valuable in training camp while starter Chidobe Awuzie has worked back towards full participation. He’s also not had that starter’s role on lock, as rookie DJ Ivey’s impressive progress has earned him plenty of reps as well. 

Jones vs. Ivey might be the tightest battle on the defensive side of the ball when final cuts arrive in a few weeks. Jones' veteran status may not hold as much weight if Ivey can play just as good with three more years on his contract remaining. The former second-round pick needs to produce quality in-game tape to keep the rookie at bay.

---

Kirkland is just one of several rookies looking to impress in their debut performance tonight. First-round pick Myles Murphy will get plenty of snaps at defensive end as he looks to find his place in the defensive line rotation. DJ Turner and Jordan Battle are likely to start in the secondary together and play for most of the first half, if not most of the game.

Wide receiver Charlie Jones may or may not suit up with a shoulder injury, but fellow rookie wideout Andrei Iosivas is very excited to put on his jersey for the first time in Paycor Stadium. 



"I can’t wait for Friday because I think these guys are scared of me," Iosivas told AllBengals.com's Elise Jesse following Wednesday's practice with the Packers.

Finally, who's going to start at quarterback? Trevor Siemian and Jake Browning have been alternating days as QB1 in practice, but only one can take the first snap tonight. It might indicate who has the inside track to winning the backup job behind Joe Burrow this season.

How to watch Bengals-Packers Week 1 preseason game

Everything to know before Cincinnati’s preseason opener.

Featured image via © Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports