CINCINNATI -- As the preseason winds down for the Cincinnati Bengals in Indianapolis on Thursday night, pay close attention to how regularly some of the players who are widely viewed as on Cincinnati's roster bubble end up playing special teams.

For Bengals like running back James Wilder Jr., solid special teams play can be what keeps them on the 53-man roster or practice squad.

Special teams versatility can help players stick out and make a name for themselves.

Look no further than linebacker Vincent Rey. During his first three seasons, he repeatedly flashed a knack for being around the football on kick and punt coverages. The more often he popped on the tape, the more chances he got to make the 46-man gameday roster. Whether he played a down on defense didn't matter. What mattered was that he could stop opposing punt and kick returners.

By Rey's fourth season in 2013, his toiling on special teams had paid off. When middle linebacker Rey Maualuga was lost for multiple games with a knee injury, Rey played on defense the way he played on special teams -- relentless in his pursuit and always around the ball.

Here's one more example: Dre Kirkpatrick. Unlike the undrafted Rey, the 2012 pick was a first-round selection at cornerback. But with a loaded depth chart above him, Kirkpatrick seldom had opportunities to show how well he could play on defense until the end of last season.

Now entering his fourth season, Kirkpatrick is a starter.

What kept Kirkpatrick afloat in the coaches' eyes and prevented him from being viewed as a first-round bust was the way he played on special teams. In his primary role as a punt-coverage gunner, Kirkpatrick regularly forced fair catches, downed punts inside the 10 or quickly tackled returners. Although he only had five tackles on special teams through his first two seasons, Kirkpatrick's nine in 2014 came in large part from having competition on the other side of the field. Rookie first-rounder Darqueze Dennard had 10 tackles as the other gunner.

Their play made the Bengals one of the best punt-cover teams in the league last season, and it played a role in getting punter Kevin Huber to his first career Pro Bowl.

All of this is to say, Wilder's team-leading three special teams tackles this preseason can't be overlooked. The fact he has had a nose for the end zone on offense, recording two rushing touchdowns and completing a 2-point conversion with an acrobatic dive over a pylon, helps, too.

For Wilder Jr. and other players who can showcase versatility on various special teams, their chances of remaining on the roster next week shoot up exponentially.