SportsCage host Teagan Witko asked a straightforward question to her guest about former Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Dohnte Meyers at Cincinnati Bengals training and the response was direct. One word said it all.
“When in your mind did Dohnte Meyers go from an interesting CFL guy to this guy might actually make the team?” Witko asked.
“Instantly,” replied Jay Morrison, a writer for Sports Illustrated’s BengalsTalk.com.
Meyers, a Grey Cup champion with the Riders last season in his lone CFL campaign, cracked the Bengals’ 53-man roster on Sunday for the upcoming NFL season.
“In (Organized Team Activities), he was turning heads,” Morrison said. “Third-string quarterback Josh Johnson was talking about how he had the quarterback room buzzing way back in the spring.”
The only question, Morrison wondered, was whether Meyers could sustain his stellar performance, and even improve on it, through camp and the preseason.
Any concerns proved needless with Bengals coach Zac Taylor praising Meyers for his ability to rise his level of play as the days and weeks progressed.
“He said that Dohnte’s consistency is what has separated him,” Morrison said. “All that flash he showed in the first week of training camp, he’s just built on it.
“He flashed right away. You just wonder – because you see it a lot – would he peter out? He has not. He’s just continued to ascend.”
Work ethic has played a major role in Meyers’ making headway with the Bengals.
Morrison mentioned how he’d stay 40 minutes after practice to throw with starting quarterback Joe Burrow. Meyers also took Burrow up on an invitation to have an extra receiving session before camp, which required a drive from Atlanta to Cincinnati.
“He drove through the night just to be there for a morning session the next day to throw with Joe Burrow,” Morrison said. “It’s remarkable because he has this burning drive that comes through. He has this intense self-belief in himself. He paid $100 just to try out for the CFL.
“When you talk to him, he’s also so incredibly humble. It’s just this really unique mix of fierce belief in yourself and yet an understanding of the bigger picture and where you are in the hierarchy of trying to make the NFL.
“It’s amazing. It’s such a great story.”
Meyers caught 11 passes for 121 yards and got two carries for 22 yards in the preseason. He added another 99 yards in punt and kick returns.
The Bengals open their season next Sunday with a home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I hope there are Dohnte Meyers jerseys in the pro shop because I know they will sell a lot of them,” Morrison said. “He’s just rapidly become a fan favourite.”
Watch Witko’s full interview with Morrison below.
