PHILADELPHIA – Cincinnati Bengals safety Shaquan Loyal stood close to secondary and safeties coach Jordan Kovacs, waiting to hear his name called for his first NFL snap during Thursday night’s preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field.
When the moment finally came in the Bengals’ 34-27 loss, the dream he had carried from West Side High School in Newark through his years at Rutgers became reality.
For an undrafted free agent fighting for a roster spot, every snap matters. But this one meant something more.
“It felt great to be out there tonight,” Loyal told NJ Advance Media. “It was a dream come true. I always wanted to play in the NFL, and I’m here just taking advantage of it.”
His first snap came on fourth-and-2 with 2:05 left in the third quarter, the Eagles leading 27-17 and driving from the Bengals’ 43-yard line. Loyal backpedaled, made his read and anchored in the middle of the field as Eagles quarterback Dorian Robinson-Thompson’s pass fell incomplete near the sideline. He finished with one tackle and would have had two more if not for penalties.
Loyal shared the moment with his parents, Nidea and Askia Loyal, and his daughter Alani after the game.
“There were a lot of smiles and laughs because I’m here now,” Loyal said. “I’m not in Newark anymore. I’m in Cincinnati, and being in the NFL is great.”
While most rookies have a tough adjustment going from the college game to the NFL and the potential distractions that come with being a player, Loyal said his time at Rutgers, particularly with head coach Greg Schiano, prepared him for this moment.
“I feel like my head coach, Greg, taught me well,” Loyal said. “He helped make me a man, and it has made me feel like nothing will be really crazy right now.”
Loyal added that he still is close with Schiano and remains in contact with him.
Listed as a third-team safety on the depth chart, Loyal showed flashes of what made him successful at Rutgers. He provided tight coverage near the goal line against Eagles tight end E.J. Jenkins, forcing Robinson-Thompson to look elsewhere. But after a roughing-the-snapper penalty gave Philadelphia another chance, Loyal looked like a rookie, filling the wrong gap on a running play that allowed ShunDerrick Powell’s 2-yard touchdown. It was part of the learning process that defines the NFL preseason.
“A lot of people, like myself, work on a lot of things,” Loyal said. “It’s a big jump to the NFL. A lot of the guys are good and every guy that is on the field is good. I have to keep working on my technique every day.”
Loyal will have another opportunity to earn a roster spot Monday night against the Washington Commanders on Aug. 18.
“I’ll see where the future takes me.”
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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.
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