Mario

Alford

Alford simply could not stay health in two training camps with Cincinnati. The 2015 seventh-round pick brings to the table 4.25 speed, but little else.

“We need to see if Alford is a legitimate contender or if he’s a pretender,” Simmons said. “He’s one that I think this camp is going to be huge for him. He needs to step up or we’ve got to go someplace else. It’s time for him.” It’s hard to be more straightforward than that. Considered a dark horse for offensive snaps earlier this offseason, Alford is now buried on the depth chart.

A seventh-round speedster out of West Virginia last year, Alford couldn’t get on the field as a rookie and is now on the roster bubble, even with Cincinnati short on depth at wideout. Jake Kumerow has been drawing better reviews.

A seventh-round pick of the Bengals in 2015, Alford appeared in one game as a rookie before being waived at final cuts this year. He brings 4.25 wheels to the roster, but not much else. Perhaps he will help on special teams.

Alford (5'9/180) spent two seasons at West Virginia, catching 92 balls for 1,497 yards (16.3 YPR) and 13 TDs. He served as the Mountaineers’ lid popper opposite alpha dog Kevin White. Although Alford can run like the wind -- he clocked 4.25 at WVU’s Pro Day -- Alford has inconsistent hands, is severely undersized, and won’t win contested catches with a 34-inch vertical. Alford did return two kickoffs for touchdowns as a senior and could carve out a Trindon Holliday-like NFL career.

At 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, Alford is too small to become more than a sub-package contributor on offense. He did run 4.25 at the West Virginia Pro Day and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns as a senior. Alford should make Bengals-fan whipping-boy Brandon Tate expendable on special teams.

Alford hasn’t seen the field yet this season. Vontaze Burfict (knee), Andy Dalton (groin), Pacman Jones (foot), Marvin Jones (hamstring), Dre Kirkpatrick (knee) and Andre Smith (thigh) are all active.

“We’re going to play everybody everywhere,” said Urban. “We’re looking for everybody’s strength.” The Bengals’ receiving corps will have a new look this year without Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu. Most likely, Cincinnati will use an early-round draft pick on a wide receiver to start opposite A.J. Green.