Bengals beat writer Paul Dehner gave his statistical prediction for WR Tyler Boyd:

Realistically, he won't top what Marvin Jones provided last year, but he could come close. And his role will only grow as your playoffs grow closer. I'm predicting in the 55-reception, 800-yard range with 5-7 touchdowns.

Boyd didn't test well at the combine, but that doesn't necessarily matter all that much when it comes to the receiver position. College market share is more important, and Boyd fared very well in that regard. With Brandon LaFell's injury woes, it appears that Boyd is going to start opposite A.J. Green and has a capable quarterback throwing him the ball. Throw in some uncertainty at the tight end position and it's a recipe for a good rookie year.

The Bengals lined up rookie wide receiver Tyler Boyd in a variety of ways during practice and while he has yet to catch an NFL regular-season pass the Bengals can celebrate Boyd’s ascension into the derby to start opposite A.J. Green in New Jersey on Sept. 11.

“A lot of guys are in that category,” said wide receivers coach James Urban as the staff continues to respond to the off-season departures of the nearly combined 1,000 yards and 100 catches accumulated by Sanu and Marvin Jones last season.

But with seven-year veteran Brandon LaFell returning to practice this week with a damaged ligament in his hand after a 10-day absence, Boyd is the unquestioned leader in the clubhouse as they get set to gauge LaFell in Sunday’s dress rehearsal in Jacksonville.

“We have to see how he transitions through,” said offensive coordinator Ken Zampese.

Also making a push is one of the best stories of the year in James Wright. Wright, the 2014 seventh-rounder from LSU, is coming back from a 21-month layoff as he tries to rebound from the most dangerous of procedures, a micro fracture knee surgery.