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Could a bigger role be in store for the fourth-year receiver?" />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteCincy Junglea Cincinnati Bengals communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsLibraryBengalsOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections #BITESIZEFilm RoomRoster Transactions and ContractsOrange & Black InsiderSalary Cap And CBAFiled under:NFL NewsBengals NewsReport: Bengals have rejected trade offers for WR Alex EricksonNew Cheap Andrew Billings Jersey ,79commentsCould a bigger role be in store for the fourth-year receiver?EDTShareTweetShareShareReport: Bengals have rejected trade offers for WR Alex EricksonDale Zanine-USA TODAY SportsJohn Ross isn’t the only Bengals pass-catcher that other NFL franchises have apparently inquired about a trade this offseason.On former NFL executive Michael Lombardi and Adnan Virk’s podcast The GM Shuffle, Lombardi mentioned that teams have tried to trade for Bengals slot receiver Alex Erickson this offseason.In a segment regarding potential fantasy breakout receivers, this is what Lombardi had to say about Erickson:“I think he’s the Cooper Kupp for Andy Dalton. ...They won’t trade this guy. This guy’s a really good player. ...teams have tried to trade for him and they won’t trade him. They won’t trade him. ...I think he’s a really good player.”For what Lombardi is implying, it appears he thinks as highly of Erickson as the Bengals do.Realistically, it would be difficult to imagine the Bengals getting any type of compensation that would make trading Erickson worth their time. Despite originally being an undrafted free agent who earned a roster spot back in 2016, Erickson has a place in the Bengals’ wide receiver corps and as a kick returner. While he’s not athletically gifted or immeasurably talented as a receiver, is he worth trading away for a late Day 3 pick? Probably not.But the praise Lombardi has for Erickson could be warranted if the Zac Taylor-led Bengals are more inclined to use him in the offense. While it’s outlandish on the surface to compare him to Kupp, Erickson’s potential production is higher than the production he’s given in his three years in Cincinnati. Lombardi mentions the Bengals needing Erickson to be Dalton’s main option in the slot ala Kupp for the Rams’ Jared Goff, but Tyler Boyd should more than suffice. Boyd could take on the flanker role on the outside and allow Erickson to squeeze into the starting lineup Andy Dalton Jersey Limited , or Erickson could just rotate more with Boyd and keep him fresh. Taylor will have options, that is for sure.Erickson is entering the first year of his two-year extension he signed last season, and it appears he isn’t leaving Cincinnati before that deal is up. ATLANTA (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals had no reason to panic when they trailed the Atlanta Falcons by five points with about four minutes remaining.That was plenty of time for Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and his top targets, Tyler Boyd and A.J. Green.Dalton's 13-yard touchdown pass to Green with 7 seconds remaining capped an impressive drive that lifted Cincinnati to a 37-36 win over the Falcons on Sunday. "We didn't flinch," Dalton said. "We just kept going. That's what you need to be a really good team and to be a good offense."Giovani Bernard ran for 69 yards and two touchdowns for Cincinnati (3-1), which retained at least a share of the AFC North lead.Dalton completed four passes to Boyd, including two on fourth-down plays, as he moved the Bengals 75 yards on 16 plays in about four minutes. He saved the game's biggest pass for Green.Green, the former University of Georgia star making his first return to the state of Georgia Boomer Esiason Jersey , made a diving catch on a corner route in the right side of the end zone to cap the drive."You've got to make the play when your number is called," Green said. "My number was called."Green said he slid to make sure he remained in bounds. He had four catches for 78 yards.Dalton completed 29 of 41 passes for 337 yards , three touchdowns and one interception.Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said it's only fitting his team enjoys some last-minute success."Damn if we hadn't had enough of being on the other side of it," Lewis said.Matt Ryan threw three scoring passes, including two to rookie Calvin Ridley , for the Falcons (1-3).The Falcons have scored more than 30 points in three straight games but won only one of the three.Ryan, the 2016 NFL MVP, has thrown eight touchdown passes in the past two weeks and has 10 through four games after throwing only 20 in 2017.Falcons coach Dan Quinn said his team lacks the instinct needed "to close the door" with a lead. "We're going to develop that instinct," he said. "We do not have it as we need it right now."Here are some takeaways from the Bengals-Falcons game:EIFERT INJURYThe Bengals' celebration was tempered by the loss of tight end Tyler Eifert to what appeared to be a season-ending injury. He had four catches for 38 yards Renell Wren Cincinnati Bengals Jersey , including a 15-yard scoring catch in the first quarter, before suffering a gruesome lower right leg injury early in the third quarter.Eifert, the team's third-leading receiver entering the game, caught a 2-yard pass and was tackled by De'Vondre Campbell and Jack Crawford. Eifert brought his hands up to his helmet as he was on his back in obvious pain. His leg stabilized by the medical staff, Eifert received encouragement from teammates before he was carted off the field.RECORD-SETTING ROOKIERidley is the first NFL rookie with six touchdown catches in his first four games. The total is especially impressive because Ridley didn't have a catch in the Falcons' opener at Philadelphia.ROAD KINGSThe Bengals have enjoyed the strong start despite playing three of their first four games on the road."We knew it was going to be tough sledding," Lewis said. "Not as good as we hoped but we earned this. It won't matter if we don't take care of business the rest of the way."SAD SACKSFalcons second-year defensive end Takk McKinley had three sacks , giving him five for his season. His emergence is a bright spot for a defense obviously struggling to replace injured safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen, who are lost for the season, and linebacker Deion Jones Cheap C.J. Uzomah Jersey , who must miss at least eight games."I think all three of our (losses), the defense had a chance to get them off the field and win it for the team," McKinley said. "We'll get it going. I'm not going to say I'm not too worried, but the team we've got here, we'll get it rolling."MENDINGEach team was without its top running back. Devonta Freeman missed his third straight game for Atlanta with a sore right knee. Mixon was held out for the second straight week for the Bengals after having debris removed from his right knee.Mixon showed he's healing well when he ran down the sideline to celebrate Green's catch late in the game.