CINCINNATI -- Like most rookies, Tyler Boyd's goal is simple: spend more time on the field than the sidelines this fall.
The big question, though, is how quickly can he secure a regular spot in the Cincinnati Bengals' receiving rotation? After all, just because he was the team's second-round pick in the NFL draft, that doesn't mean he's automatically earned a key contributor's role.
But that's where this time of year becomes important. Beginning Friday, Boyd had his first chance to prove to Cincinnati Bengals coaches that he not only belongs on their team, but that he should play much sooner rather than later. To accomplish that on his end, Boyd joined 49 others on the practice fields as the Bengals opened rookie camp. They will practice together through Sunday, one day before veterans return from a weekend off to resume offseason-workout sessions.
"Now that I'm here, I just want to learn everything as quickly as possible and just adapt to the installs and studying all the time," Boyd said.
How does he plan to do that? By applying the same techniques any person auditioning for a starring role would: memorization. And instead of learning lines of a script by heart, he's memorizing offensive routes, concepts and schemes.
"I'm going to try to memorize [the playbook] to the best of my ability, and I'm good at that," Boyd said. "That's what'll allow me to play early."
Boyd is confident his transition to the Bengals' way will be smooth because of what he learned in college at Pitt.
"We call every formation the same, like 'double, trips' and all that stuff. So I'm familiar with that. I really don't have to study on that," Boyd said. "The one thing I have to study on is the different concepts and how they call this or that. ... We ran the same concepts, just with different terminology.
"I'm going to get the hang of it quick, I feel."
Coach Marvin Lewis shares Boyd's optimism, specifically after Boyd and others had what he classified a good, focused, fast-paced opening day of rookie camp.
"We want to put Tyler Boyd in a situation to learn the offense as quick as possible," Lewis said, adding that he wants the same thing for sixth-round receiver Cody Core. "[Let's] get those young guys an opportunity to contribute on offense. Those guys that we picked, we're doing this for them. So they have an opportunity they can get as close to football as we can."
The added challenge for Boyd rests in the fact he's already learning multiple positions. As a playmaking threat who lined up all over Pitt's offense, he'll be asked to do the same for the Bengals. That means learning both outside receiver positions, as well as routes run from the slots.
Boyd, who is currently rooming with Core, was quick to acknowledge that he'll need help from other Bengals rookies as he makes the rapid adjustment to the NFL.
"Every guy here can make me better, in a way. Every guy here is giving it all out to take advantage of the opportunity like I mentioned," Boyd said. "Every guy is trying to make the roster. Every guy is going to give it 110 percent to compete, and every guy here can get me better."