Rookie LB Germaine Pratt expecting a bigger role against Bills

After just a handful of snaps to open up the season, Bengals’ third-round draft pick Germaine Pratt is expected to get some consistent snaps in the near future.

Pratt failed to see the field as a member of the defense against the 49ers in the Bengals’ sad Week 2 showing. He has been a regular on the team’s special teams unit given his physicality, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 245 pounds.

The former NC State linebacker joined his collegiate quarterback, Ryan Finley, in the Queen City to kick off his NFL career. However, after being selected 72nd overall, Pratt’s expectations slowly waned on a team void of a stellar linebacking corp.

Don’t expect to see Pratt on the sideline for long though. Bengals.com writer Geoff Hobson talked to linebacker coach Tem Lukabu about Pratt’s role in the defense and how he’ll impact it moving forward.

“I would think so. I’d be surprised if he didn’t. Because he’s practicing well. He’s doing a good job. He’s adjusting to the pro style of football. Urgency. The details of it. Just understanding, ‘What play can I eliminate by seeing this and seeing that?’ while still lining everybody else up. He’s come along way with that,” Lukabu said regarding Pratt’s performance.

Pratt’s three snaps against Seattle totaled 6% of the defense’s overall count. After a pitiful showing against the 49ers, giving up 40-plus points for the first time this season, change could be in store for Cincinnati.

They’ll be marching to Buffalo in Week 3 and then to Pittsburgh in Week 4. They’ll need a stout defense for both of those games, going against a team that 2-0 and then another that’s had their number the last few seasons.

A solid prospect coming out college, the Bengals needed to bolster their defense in the draft. With their third-round pick, they did just that, strengthen their defense with Pratt, who needs to be that force in the middle.

It sounds like he’ll get his first real chance to make an impact in Week 3.