Former Oklahoma OL Cody Ford splits out wide, makes 21-yard reception for Bengals
By David Wasson
Published:
Emptying the playbook is always fun in the waning stages of the season at any level, and the Cincinnati Bengals enjoyed a moment of fun in Week 17 by rewarding offensive lineman Cody Ford.
Ford, a former Oklahoma Sooners standout, split wide right with the Bengals comfortably leading the Arizona Cardinals 30-7 late in the third quarter – the 6-foot-3, 345-pound guard becoming a receiver. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow pump-faked inside out of the shotgun and dotted Ford up with a perfect pass 4 yards past the line of scrimmage.
Ford wasn’t satisfied with just the completion, as he barreled through the tackle attempt of Arizona defensive back Denzel Burke – who was giving up 4 inches of height and 155 pounds of weight – and rumbled 21 yards down to the Cardinals 2-yard line.
“Big man on the run!” exclaimed Fox play-by-play voice Kevin Kugler as Ford plowed down the sideline.
The reception was Ford’s first in his 6-year NFL career and came on his 28th birthday. Ford earned first-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior at Oklahoma in 2018 before being selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft with the 38th overall pick.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
