Cincinnati’s Punting Battle Is Over, But the Punting War May Have Just Begun?
Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
Being a die-hard Cincinnati Bengals fan means closely following every development in training camp. Even the punting battles. Normally, this is the most boring place to look for depth chart jockeying, but we’ve got some new developments in Cincinnati. Unfortunately for Brad Robbins, it looks like the competition for the punter gig has come to an abrupt end.
Robbins, the second-year punter who showed so much promise last season, suffered a hip injury during training camp on August 13, 2024. This setback will effectively hand the starting job to rookie Ryan Rehkow, and this has the potential to be a game-changer for the Bengals’ special teams unit.
To fully appreciate the gravity of this situation, we need to look back at Robbins’ journey with the Bengals. Drafted (yes, a punter!!! Drafted!!!) in the sixth round in 2023, Robbins came to Cincinnati with high expectations. His collegiate career at Michigan was impressive, showcasing a powerful leg and the ability to pin opponents deep in their territory. Bengals fans drooled over the prospect of seeing the Bengals finally solving their punting woes.
Robbins’ rookie year had its ups and downs, but was promising overall. He made his NFL debut in spectacular fashion, booting 10 punts in his first game — the most by a rookie in two decades. Throughout the season, he demonstrated the ability to flip field position and give the defense advantageous starting points. It seemed like the team had found its punter for years to come.
Until last week, when Robbins left the field limping before practice even started. He later revealed it was a hip flexor issue, which occurred while he was practicing place kicks. It almost feels silly to say it, but a hip injury is about as concerning as it gets for punters, as it directly affects the power and accuracy of their kicks. The timing was also devastating for Robbins. He was in the middle of a heated competition for the starting role, and now he’s sidelined indefinitely.
Enter Rehkow, the rookie from BYU who was waiting in the wings. Rehkow’s college stats are every bit as impressive as Robbins’ resume. Rehkow averaged 47.4 yards per punt over 176 attempts at BYU. That’s the kind of consistency and power that NFL teams dream of.
In the Bengals’ first preseason game, Rehkow’s 56 yards per punt average outperformed Robbins (50 yards per punt), though it’s worth noting that Robbins was likely already feeling the effects of his injury during this game.
With Robbins sidelined, Rehkow now has a clear path to the starting job. He took all six punts in Week 2’s preseason game against the Chicago Bears, averaging 46 yards per punt, with one landing inside the 20. Sure was nice of the Bengals to give him so much practice. This extended audition will give him ample opportunity to solidify his position on the team and build chemistry with the rest of the special teams unit.
How things shake out will certainly depend on the influence of special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons. Known for his high standards and meticulous approach, Simmons has been with the Bengals since 2003 and has seen his fair share of punters come and go. Given Rehkow’s strong performance and Robbins’ injury, Simmons’ track record suggests he will favor the rookie who’s stayed healthy and shown consistency. Simmons has never been one to let sentiment cloud his judgment, and he’ll do what’s best for the team. In this case, that likely means moving forward with Rehkow as the starting punter.
There’s also a financial consideration to this situation. As a rookie, Rehkow would come at a lower cost than Robbins, who’s in his second year. While the difference may not be substantial, in the salary cap era, every dollar counts. The Bengals are already paying top-dollar for Evan McPherson (relatively speaking) after his three-year extension, so cutting some small costs with the punter has to be at least a little attractive.
The tea leaves all point to Rehkow taking the starting job we all thought solidly belonged to Robbins. The combination of the injury, Rehkow’s strong performance, and the financial implications all line up, and it just makes too much sense.
So where does that leave Robbins? The practice squad seems like a viable option, especially if the injury helps the Bengals sneak him there. This would allow him to recover fully and continue developing within the organization while giving the Bengals a reliable backup plan if Rehkow struggles. It’s a win-win situation: Robbins gets to stay with the team and work on his craft without the pressure of immediate game action, and the Bengals maintain depth at the position.
Heading to the future, having both punters in the organization competing against each other can only help the franchise. This isn’t a case where an up-and-comer is pushing out an older veteran. These are two young players looking to make names for themselves in the NFL. They’re hungry, they’re motivated, and they’ll have to constantly work to make sure the other doesn’t overtake them.
It’s a good place to be in, especially in the AFC North, where field position battles are crucial. The punting battle may be over for now, but it might only be starting for the long term, and that should make Cincinnati’s special teams all the better for the competition.
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