While Cincinnati Bengals fans await contract news regarding the star wideout Ja’Marr ChaseThere was good news on the contract front on Friday: The franchise has extended Kicker Evan McPherson.
And the deal, worth $16.5 million over three years, will bring in more money than ever before for a kicker, NFL Network reports. Mike GarafoloMcPherson is set to earn an additional $10 million in the first year of his contract, the most a player has ever earned in a three-year deal.
McPherson is likely worth the effort for the Bengals, as he not only provides a reliable presence as a kicker on average field goals and extra points, but also shows a penchant for getting on offense and making crucial kicks to tie games, take the lead, or even come away with a win.
In three years in the NFL, playing in 49 regular season games, McPherson completed 78 of 93 throws for an 83.9% completion rate during the regular season. He has only missed one kick under 40 yards in his career during the regular season and has a career-high 59 yards. He was also perfect on extra points in 2024.
And in the postseason, McPherson was almost flawless. His only miss? An extra point in the 2022 playoffs. Otherwise, he has made 19 of 19 field goals in the postseason.
McPherson was selected by the Bengals as the fifth pick of the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft and came from Florida.
The Bengals received bad news regarding a replacement running back
Running back for the Cincinnati Bengals Chris Evans suffered a torn patellar tendon during training on Thursday, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The injury ends the former Michigan outstanding season.
The injury occurred during the Bengals’ joint practice with the Chicago Bears while both teams were in training camp. Evans reportedly injured himself while intercepting a kickoff near the end of practice. His right leg was placed in an aircast before he was carried off the field.
Evans has spent three seasons in Cincinnati since being selected in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. During that time, he has played in 34 games for the Bengals, totaling 19 carries for 89 yards. He has also been used on special teams and even served as the team’s kickoff returner 14 times, totaling 314 yards and kickoffs.
While at Michigan, Evans totaled over 1,500 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in his career. He was also a threat out of the backfield, which prompted the Bengals to recruit the former Wolverine with their sixth-round pick this year.
