Germaine Pratt

Germaine Pratt (born May 21, 1996) is an American football linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at NC State, and was drafted by the Bengals in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Germaine Pratt
refer to caption
Pratt with the Bengals in 2020
No. 57 – Cincinnati Bengals
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1996-05-21) May 21, 1996
High Point, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:High Point Central
College:NC State (2014–2018)
NFL Draft:2019 / Round: 3 / Pick: 72
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-ACC (2018)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2023
Total tackles:400
Sacks:2.5
Forced fumbles:4
Fumble recoveries:3
Interceptions:4
Pass deflections:15
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Pratt attended High Point Central High School in High Point, North Carolina. He committed to North Carolina State University to play college football.[1]

College career

Pratt played at NC State from 2014 to 2018.[2][3] During his career, he had 235 tackles, six sacks, four interceptions and a touchdown.[4]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 2+1⁄2 in
(1.89 m)		 240 lb
(109 kg)		 31+5⁄8 in
(0.80 m)		 9+1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		4.57 s1.58 s2.53 s4.45 s32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)		9 ft 8 in
(2.95 m)		24 reps
All values from NFL Draft[5][6]

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Pratt in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.[7] Pratt was the eighth linebacker drafted in 2019.[8]

On June 27, 2019, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Pratt to a four-year, $4.08 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $1.05 million.[9]

2019

Throughout training camp, Pratt competed with Hardy Nickerson, Malik Jefferson, Deshaun Davis and Noah Dawkins for a role as the Bengals' primary backup linebacker, which would result in Pratt winning the job, and head coach Zac Taylor placing him behind starters Preston Brown, Nick Vigil, and Jordan Evans on the depth chart to begin the regular season.[10]

Pratt earned his first career start and recorded five combined tackles (four solo) during a 23 –17 loss at the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6. In Week 10, Pratt started at middle linebacker, replacing Brown, and made four combined tackles (three solo) in the Bengals' 49–13 loss against the Baltimore Ravens.

On November 12, 2019, the Cincinnati Bengals waived Preston Brown, subsequently resulting in Pratt remaining as the starter for the remainder of the season.[11] In Week 16, Pratt collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (nine solo) during a 38–35 loss at the Miami Dolphins. He finished his rookie campaign in 2019 with a total of 76 combined tackles (50 solo) in 16 games and nine starts.[12]

2020

Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo elected to install a base nickel defense and named Pratt and Josh Bynes as the starting linebackers.[13][14] He started in the Cincinnati Bengals' season-opener against the Los Angeles Chargers and made 12 combined tackles (eight solo) during a 16–13 loss.[15] He finished the season with 89 tackles (55 solo), and two pass deflections.

2021

Pratt was once again named a starting linebacker for the 2021 season alongside Logan Wilson. In Week 8 against the New York Jets, Pratt would record his first career interception on Jets' quarterback Mike White. In the Bengals' Week 14 win against the Denver Broncos, Pratt would have a career-high 15 combined tackles (nine solo). He would finish the regular season with 91 tackles and two forced fumbles. Against the Las Vegas Raiders in the Wild Card round, Pratt recorded six tackles, and recorded the game-winning interception on Derek Carr in the 26–19 win, securing the Bengals first playoff win since 1991.[16]

2022

Pratt and Wilson returned as the team's starting linebackers for the 2022 season. In the Bengals' Week 5 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Pratt would record his first career sack on Ravens' quarterback Lamar Jackson. The following week against the New Orleans Saints, Pratt would record 14 tackles, one shy of his personal career high. Pratt would record an interception in Week 9 against the Carolina Panthers, leading to a viral celebration by the entire Bengals defense, doing snow angels in the end zone.[17] His second interception of the season would come in the fourth quarter of their Week 14 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[18] Pratt would finish the season with a career-high 99 tackles, finishing second on the team in total tackles, only behind Wilson.

2023

On March 14, 2023, Pratt signed a three-year, $20.25 million contract extension with the Bengals.[19][20] In the Bengals' Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns, Pratt would record his second career sack in the 24–3 loss.

References
  1. Reynolds, David. "High Point Central's Pratt commits to N.C. State". Greensboro News and Record.
  2. NC State's next breakout defensive star? Look for the hoodie
  3. "NC State's Pratt thriving in final season with Pack, hoping play pays off for family". WRALSportsFan.com. October 8, 2018.
  4. Staff Report. "Wolfpack's Pratt to skip Gator Bowl". Technician.
  5. "NFL Draft Prospect Profile - Germaine Pratt". nfl.com. March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  6. "North Carolina State OLB Germaine Pratt : 2019 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". NFLDraftScout.com. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  7. "Bengals select Germaine Pratt with the 72nd overall pick". CincyJungle.com. April 26, 2019.
  8. "2019 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  9. "Spotrac.com: Germain Pratt contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  10. "Ourlads.com: Cincinnati Bengals Depth Chart: 09/02/2019". Ourlads.com. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  11. "Bengals cut veteran linebacker Preston Brown". stripehype.com. November 12, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  12. "Pro Football Reference: Germain Pratt (2019)". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  13. "Film Room: What to know about the Bengals defense in 2020". cincyjungle.com. September 11, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  14. "Cincinnati Bengals Bengals projected depth chart". cincinnati.com. September 5, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  15. "Pro Football Reference: Germain Pratt (2020)". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  16. Polacek, Scott. "Joe Burrow, Bengals Snap NFL Playoff Drought with Win Over Derek Carr, Raiders". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  17. "Bengals Notebook: Saturday Meeting Fired Up Mixon; Remember The Defense (And Celebrations)". www.bengals.com. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  18. "Bengals' Germaine Pratt: Nabs late INT". CBSSports.com. 2022-12-21. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  19. Hobson, Geoff (March 13, 2023). "Bengals Extend Germaine Pratt: "We're Close ... I Want To Win"". Bengals.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  20. "Bengals Re-Sign Germaine Pratt". Bengals.com. March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
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