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There's a very real possibility that the Cincinnati Bengals could have first-round rookie cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick this weekend against the Denver Broncos; rehabilitation long completed, the conditioning and practicing in full tactical gear preparing for a projected Peyton Manning assault.
That being said the Bengals have had their other first-round pick, offensive guard Kevin Zeitler all season. And after every game, he appears only to be getting better and better. So good in fact that Sam Monson with Pro Football Focus named Kevin Zeitler the AFC Rookie of the Month for October.
It took some level of play to drop September’s winner from this mark, and it was a close decision, but Bengals rookie guard Kevin Zeitler (+5.9) had a fine month of October. He struggled a little against Miami, surrendering three hurries to a pretty dominant defensive line, but those three pressures were the only ones he would give up all month, remaining perfect against Cleveland and Pittsburgh and grading positively in the run game in all of his games this month.
According to PFF grades, Zeitler is the second-best offensive player, behind A.J. Green (only barely too). After last weekend's set of games, Zeitler is currently listed as the fourth-best right guard in the NFL right now.