Durability is one of the most underrated attributes in the NFL. Anyone who plays fantasy football knows how important it is to select a player who is going to consistently produce on a week-to-week basis, regardless of whether he sustains a minor injury. For example, Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell is usually one of the top options in fantasy football--and arguably the best running back in the sport, when healthy--but his upright running style leaves him more vulnerable to injury, which is something people need to accept when selecting him in a fantasy draft. Personally, I'd prefer a guy like Adrian Peterson, who might not be as good as Bell when both are at their best, but is a surer bet to play through injury and protect himself from a potential serious injury.
Similarly, NFL teams highly value durability. A player's ability to stay healthy gives coaches assurance that what they want to accomplish on offense or defense will be accomplished. There doesn't have to be as much worry about a player toughing it out through a minor injury or carelessly leaving himself vulnerable to a potential threatening injury. Plenty of injuries, like Dre Kirkpatrick's 2015 shoulder injury, don't end up on the injury report; for varying reasons. That, coupled with the fact that football is a violent sport, gives fans enough reason to assume that most, if not all, of the players on every team sustain at least one injury every season. Teams give out painkillers like restaurants give out free mints, so assuming that most players play through injury is fairly reasonable.
Many Bengals players have proven to be durable throughout their careers. Wide receiver Brandon Tate, who has played in 96 straight games, or six straight seasons, without missing a single game, has been one of the most durable players in the NFL. Only Falcons wide receiver Eric Weems (118) has played in more consecutive games than Tate. Torrey Smith (80), Demaryius Thomas (75) and Rueben Randle (64) are next on the list. For Tate, making 96 straight appearances is no easy feat, but he hasn't been a huge factor on offense throughout his tenure, which makes the streak just a tad less impressive--though it's still remarkable.
When it comes to starts, however, one Bengals wideout is right up there with the best. Demaryius Thomas leads the NFL with 64 consecutive regular season starts; DeAndre Hopkins (48) and Antonio Brown (36) are relatively close behind. Lions WR Golden Tate and Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin come next on the list, with 32 consecutive starts--or two full seasons--apiece. Next comes A.J. Green, who has fought through plenty of injuries in his career. The Bengals wide receiver has made 25 consecutive starts, playing through injury in 2015.
Another player who, like Tate, has made a ton of consecutive regular season appearances, mostly on special teams, is running back Cedric Peerman. The captain of Cincinnati's special teams unit, Peerman has made 50 consecutive regular season appearances, which amounts to more than three straight seasons without a single missed game. Among running backs, only Anthony Dixon (96), Frank Gore (80), Alfred Morris (64) and Lamar Miller (53) have played in more consecutive games.
The final offensive player who has been incredibly durable throughout his Bengals career is Russell Bodine. The center, entering his third year pro, has never missed a start. Only Eric Wood (50), Travis Frederick (48) and Stefen Wisniewski (42) have made more consecutive starts than Bodine's 32. What's even more impressive, per Pro Football Reference, is that Bodine has missed just one snap during his two-year career.
On defense, Domata Peko has been remarkably durable in his career. The defensive tackle, along with Tyson Alualu, leads all defensive tackles with 96 consecutive games played, but unlike Alualu, Peko has started all 96 of those games. Ndamukong Suh (67) and Michael Brockers (56) are next on the list in terms of consecutive starts. Surprisingly, Peko's teammate, Geno Atkins, is the next guy on the list, with 32 consecutive starts (tied with Mike Daniels, Vince Wilfork and Jurrell Casey). Cincinnati's defensive line has been extremely durable over the years, which is always encouraging to see.
For what it's worth, former Bengals safety Reggie Nelson has made 44 consecutive starts, only bested by Glover Quin (100), Earl Thomas (96), Marcus Gilchrist (48), Charles Woodson (48) and Mike Mitchell (46). Assuming he starts Week 1, Nelson will become the fifth man on the list, as Woodson's streak will end due to his retirement. Hopefully George Iloka and Shawn Williams can follow in Nelson's footsteps and prove their durability by making dozens of consecutive starts.