In the final preseason game of 2018, the Cincinnati Bengals backups showed some good and some not-so-good things on tape. The run defense was mediocre, as the backup defense gave up 107 yards at 4.3 YPC to the Indianapolis Colts. However, some younger secondary players flashed some potential in the back end despite the loss.

With that said, now that the game is over, the coaches will have an incredibly tough time coming up with the final 53 man roster they’ll roll with week 1 against the Colts. Do they keep Brian Hill, Tra Carson, or Quinton Flowers? Does Wilson make it now after the Trayvon Henderson injury? There are still many decisions to be made, but the Colts game shed some light on who may stick and who won’t.

These are the 5 players whose stocks either went up or down after the final preseason game against the Colts.

LB Malik Jefferson: Trending Upwards

After finishing the game with 7 tackles and some great plays in coverage, Jefferson looks to be playing more instinctively as he gains more game experience. As his only knock coming out of college was his lack of instincts, this is great news for Bengals fans. His athleticism and power were on display as he made stops in both the running and passing game.

In multiple points throughout the game, Jefferson’s athleticism popped off the screen. In the first quarter, Jefferson smacked a receiver after making a reception. In the second quarter, he made a crucial fourth down stop, as he shot through his gap and stopped the RB from going in for a TD. In the third quarter, he had two pass breakups in 3 plays. In other words, Jefferson had a heck of a game.

His play against the Colts should cement him as the third LB coming off the bench after Evans and Rey (after Burfict returns of course).