The Cincinnati Bengals are hot, but kicker Evan McPherson might remain absent in Week 18. The team’s scarce options include turning to Cade York, a kicker with a rollercoaster career, to step up in a critical moment. The Bengals sit on the edge of playoff elimination with an 8-8 record; York’s journey and recent performances have come under intense scrutiny.
Evan McPherson Remains on Injured Reserve List with Cade York Taking The Forefront
McPherson, known for his reliability, was placed on injured reserve on December 4 after sustaining a groin injury during a Week 14 loss to the Steelers.
BREAKING: #Bengals K Evan McPherson is expected to miss a few weeks with a groin injury, per @MikeGarafolo. pic.twitter.com/ufKhXTllNO
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) December 4, 2024
“I’ve strained my groin before, but I knew it was something semi-serious when I couldn’t put much pressure on it during the tests,” McPherson said of how it felt after the game. “The good news is it’s let the body heal by itself.”
With his IR stint sidelining him until at least Week 18, Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons offered a stark reality to York via SI upon his signing,
“This is a great opportunity for you to go out and prove that you can play in this league, and you can be counted on to be dependable. It’s either gonna go one of two ways: Either you’re gonna excel or you’re gonna falter. And if you falter, there may be no coming back.”
York’s Bengals debut showed both potential and pitfalls. Two weeks ago, he nailed a franchise-record 59-yard field goal against the Browns but also missed a 47-yarder in the same game and an extra point against the Titans. The most glaring misstep came in a 30-24 overtime win against the Broncos, where Cade clanged a 33-yard field goal attempt off the left upright, nearly costing Cincinnati the game.
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Simmons addressed the miss candidly, stating, “Perfect operation. The snap, the hold were perfect. He just missed the kick.” He quickly sought to refocus York, urging him to be ready if called upon again, emphasizing, “The most important kick a kicker has is the next kick, and how he responds to a negative play.”
Cade York’s career thus far has been turbulent. Drafted by the Browns in the fourth round in 2022, he was released after a series of inconsistent performances and spent brief stints with multiple teams before being signed by the Bengals. His reliability now hangs in the balance as the Bengals evaluate his mental resilience while wanting to make a mark against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the end of the season.
Despite McPherson’s uncertain return, the team’s loyal remain optimistic about his star kicker’s recovery if Cincinnati makes the postseason. Naturally, all eyes will be on York to see if he can rise above his struggles and seize this career-defining opportunity as the Bengals head to Pittsburgh for their season finale.
Can the Bengals’ Still Make the Playoffs?
The AFC North has not yet been decided, but it won’t be the Bengals taking the crown. Either the Baltimore Ravens or the Pittsburgh Steelers will win the division, with the Ravens clinching so long as they take care of business earlier Saturday against the Cleveland Browns. The other team will be a Wild Card.
The Bengals have had numerous heartbreaking losses this season, going just 3-7 in one-score games. All those tight losses have put them in their current unenviable position regarding tiebreakers.
Cincinnati won’t win a tie over the Miami Dolphins due to an inferior conference record. They’d win a tiebreaker over the Denver Broncos due to their Week 17 head-to-head win, but Denver sits a game ahead of them in he standings.
That means the Bengals only have one path to the postseason:
- Win at PIT AND
- MIA loss or tie at NYJ AND
- DEN loss vs. KC