HOUSTON – With four kickoff returns for 107 yards, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver/returner Alex Erickson moved into first-place in the entire National Football League for kickoff return yardage heading into the final game of his rookie season.
    Erickson has returned 28 kickoffs for an NFL-best 796 yards and is 11th overall in average per return at 28.4 yards. He is also 15th in the NFL in punt return yardage with 195 yards on 27 returns (7.2 ypr.), and has made six catches for 71 yards (11.8 ypc.) through 15 games.
    In the Bengals’ Christmas Eve loss in Houston, the Darlington native had four kickoff returns for 107 yards, six punt returns for 16 yards and one reception for five yards.
    The Bengals (5-9-1) had a chance to beat the playoff-bound Texans on the final play of the game, but Bengals kicker Randy Bullock– a former Houston player– missed a game-winning 43-yard field goal attempt wide right on the final player of the game to seal a 12-10 loss.
    Cincinnati will close the season at home against Baltimore (8-7) on Sunday, Jan. 1, starting at 12 noon CST.