Evans is a core special teams player for the Bengals but rarely sees time on defense. He played on 75 percent of Cincinnati's special teams snaps last year but logged just 62 totals snaps as a defenseman. Despite the lack of playing time, Evans managed to log a fumble recovery and an interception in 2020. 

The takeaway here is that new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumos is moving away from the team's former 4-3 front, instead mostly using a modified 3-4 or even a 5-2, with the only two linebackers getting regular playing time being Preston Brown and Nick Vigil. Anarumos is trying not to force weaker linebackers like Evans or rookie Germaine Pratt out there if he can help it.

Evans didn't practice the last two weeks and will finish 2018 missing the final two games of the season. The Bengals' desperate injury situation forces the team to put him on injured reserve, rather than simply ruling him out. Hardy Nickerson and Nick Vigil should continue to dominate the snaps at linebacker Sunday at Pittsburgh.

Evans sat out last week's loss to the Browns, and was a non-participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday. The second-year pro is trending towards sitting out Week 17, in which case Vincent Rey would slot into the starting lineup versus Pittsburgh.