Say what you will about the Cincinnati Bengals defense, but the offense is as good as it gets.

Of course, Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are a big reason for that. But the supporting cast is also pretty good. And Andrei Iosivas is a big part of that.

In the first few weeks of the season, Iosivas filled in brilliantly for the injured Higgins, recording five catches for 33 yards and two touchdowns. Against Washington, Iosivas recorded five receptions for 52 yards and scored a touchdown in Higgins' first game back. Iosivas had become the red zone threat that the Bengals had been lacking.

“I think the red zone stuff was just kind of an anomaly,” Iosivas said in a recent interview with Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “Everyone loves to score touchdowns, but I guess I did that early in my career. I am versatile across the entire field. I will be open everywhere. So it's exactly where the ball finds me.

Over the past two weeks, with Higgins back to 100% (or as close to it as possible), Iosivas' role has been scaled back a bit, but his contributions are still outstanding.

Against Carolina, in Cincinnati's only win of the season, Iosivas had one reception for 29 yards. It happened during the two-minute drill at the end of the first half, and Burrow found Iosivas open in the middle of the field. He took a big hit, but managed to hold on at the Panthers' 21-yard line. Cincinnati converted the attempt into a touchdown and scored again on the first possession of the second half to take a 28-14 lead.

“Those are the catches that need to be made in situations like this,” Iosivas said. “It was also a good ball from him. And I was able to catch it, not with my body, but by locking it up. Like I'm spinning and using my hands. I kind of contained it. I knew I had to have a chance there.

“There are certain coverages where you know where the defender is most likely going to come from when you get the ball. So this was a cover-two look, and I was right in the middle, so I knew the next safety was to my right. I kind of expected that if I got hit, that’s where I’d be hit.”

The following week, Iosivas again had a single reception, this time for 39 yards. That catch led to a touchdown that increased the Bengals' lead to 10 points midway through the third quarter.

That reception was also the longest of his professional career, which began when Cincinnati selected the Princeton graduate in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Iosivas ran a go route down the left side, sprinting past both the cornerback and the safety. Burrow applied pressure up the middle and threw the ball high toward Iosivas, who had to slow down to catch the ball.

Not only have Burrow and the Bengals learned to trust Iosivas as a receiver in some difficult situations, they also rely on him and the entire receiving room to block downfield. Iosivas and the entire room are proud of this.

“I'll be there because I'm a good route runner and pass catcher, but I've also taken more pride in my blocking and I thought I had a really good blocking game last game. You never know if I'm in it, regardless of whether it works or fits. I think that helps too.”

One thing is for sure: When Iosivas is in the lineup, you can count on him to do his job.

“I know the offense very well, so they can use me wherever they need me,” explained Iosivas. “I have the starting role firmly under control and can run for days. So when someone’s tired, I’m usually the one who sticks around.”

And that's good news for the offense. Now if the defense can figure out how to get out of her own way…