Tag: bengals preseason

Bengals’ Jordan Battle rising to the challenge of losing starting job

A rising Bengals defender welcomes the challenge of losing his job going into 2024.

Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle technically lost his starting job this summer when the team brought back Vonn Bell and added Geno Stone to play the other spot.

Technically, at least, Battle looked ready to jump into a starting role in that Bell-styled role after impressing late in his rookie season when given the chance.

But while Battle is now third in the rotation, he’s embraced the role and newfound duties that come with it — with even special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons impressed with how forcefully Battle has thrown himself into duties on special teams.

“Tough, but technically I never really had a job. Last year I was fighting. You know what they say. Long season,” Battle said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “Keep fighting. Embrace the competition. Don’t get my head down. Play my role on this team, which right now is second safety and special teams. I kind of like special teams right now. I Iike the (new) kickoff. It’s like a one-on-one block. I can’t be blocked one-on-one.”

Battle wasn’t the only one to lose a job at safety, with former first-rounder Dax Hill making the move — incredibly successfully, by the way — to the boundary corner spot.

Communication issues that plagued the secondary last year were the main reason for the changes, with Bell coming back already knowing the system to fix the issue.

That leaves Battle as a rotational presence for now while effectively getting mentored by Bell before stepping into a bigger role at a later date. It’s a nice piece of long-term strategy by the Bengals in the secondary, with Battle’s embracing it making it all the better.

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Bengals’ underrated OL manned LT, RT while fighting for final roster

One of the most overlooked stories of Bengals training camp might be its best.

The story of  Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Jaxson Kirkland has gone overlooked at training camp.

No wonder, with names like Ja’Marr Chase in the headlines, the odd Jermaine Burton saga and rookie breakouts all over the place.

But Kirkland’s story is one of the best — and it might be critically important, too.

For attentive fans, Kirkland was the exciting undrafted free agent from 2023 out of Washington who fell out of the draft seemingly for medical reasons, so there was hope he could slow-burn his way into being a contributor.

It appears that time has arrived.

Kirkland spent his first pro year on the practice squad and this summer has been all over the place for the Bengals — literally.

As Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com noted, Kirkland played both guard and tackle spots this summer for line coach Frank Pollack:

Kirkland not only threw around his physicality and mean streak at both guard spots, but he moved out to both tackles at a moment’s notice in the last two games and held up well both times.

Pollack and Co. apparently gave Kirkland little notice before his start at left tackle and playing time at right tackle in different preseason games this summer.

It seems pretty obvious that the Bengals liked what they saw. Former second-round pick Jackson Carman was named in the first wave of cuts and he was a presence at the tackle spots. D’Ante Smith is out for the year, so that leaves Kirkland as a primary backup, barring a shocker.

And when a guy who fell out of the draft can play at least four spots on the line, he’s pretty valuable to a team. Kirkland will probably make the final roster by Tuesday’s deadline, keeping him right on track for what fans and media hoped when he chose the  Bengals after last year’s draft.

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Bengals snap count takeaways from preseason game vs. Colts

Quick thoughts on Bengals snap counts from the third preseason game.

The Cincinnati Bengals said a lot with the lineups during the preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts.

Here’s a look at some snap count takeaways from the game before final cuts.

  • Lineman Nate Gilliam has put together a really nice summer and 100 percent of the snaps might not mean he’s missing the final roster.
  • Interesting to see running back Trayveon Williams at 73 percent of the snaps despite pretty clearly being the third back.
  • Undrafted lineman Matt Lee didn’t play 100 percent this week, but he sure feels like a roster lock.
  • Hyped rookie Jermaine Burton played 66 percent of the snaps, again stuck with only getting on the field late in the game. He scored a touchdown anyway.
  • The Bengals got some creative usage out of rookie tight end Erick All as a blocker and otherwise while he played 48 percent of the snaps.
  • Rookie corner Josh Newton got some important developmental reps while leading the defense at 82 percent.
  • Undrafted rookie and likely final roster member Maema Njongmeta played 71 percent and led the team in tackles for the third straight game.
  • Possibly in line to see borderline starter snaps in the regular season, safety Jordan Battle notably got on the field for 34 percent — and recorded a pick-six.

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Bengals waive Jackson Carman, 11 total players after final preseason game

The Bengals trimmed the roster with some cuts.

The Cincinnati Bengals waived 11 players after their preseason finale, announcing the moves on Friday.

Cincinnati let the following players go:

  • –WR Hakeem Butler
  • –HB Noah Cain
  • –OT Jackson Carman
  • –DE Andre Carter
  • –LB Aaron Casey
  • –S Michael Dowell
  • –CB Allan George
  • –WR Kwamie Lassiter II
  • –QB Rocky Lombardi
  • –G Eric Miller
  • –DT Joshua Pryor

Of the names there, Jackson Carman is by far the biggest. The former second-round pick couldn’t carve out a starting job over a handful of years in Cincinnati and was demoted to the fourth team over the course of the last two preseason games.

Wideout Hakeem Butler was a big-name signing for the team during training camp, but he couldn’t break through the stacked depth chart. Similarily, Lassiter had another fantastic summer, yet loses to the numbers game.

The undrafted Aaron Casey was one of two guys the Bengals paid up extra for after the draft, yet the other — Maema Njongmeta — was one of the biggest breakouts of training camp.

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Instant analysis after Bengals lose to Colts in preseason finale

Instant analysis after Bengals vs. Colts in preseason Week 3.

The Cincinnati Bengals closed the preseason on Thursday night with a 27-14 loss against the Indianapolis Colts.

There, the Bengals backups struggled in spurts against Colts starters, but also scored a defensive touchdown to keep things interesting on the scoreboard.

The real intrigue, though, came in the form of final roster battles.

 

Quick Thoughts

  • The Bengals didn’t play starters, which seems to say it all about the Dax Hill vs. DJ Turner battle for the No. 2 corner spot. That was really the only question mark and Hill seems to have won with ease.
  • Charlie Jones is back and perhaps we should forget about seeing Jermaine Burton on returns again. Jones again looked like one of the league’s most dangerous returners, taking his first back nearly 50 yards.
  • Late-round rookie breakout Daijahn Anthony got beat for a touchdown early. But keep in mind the Colts were rolling with all of their starters.
  • Along those same lines, Jordan Battle took a pick of Anthony Richardson back to the house for a touchdown. Those are good reps for him and isn’t a sign that he won’t see significant usage next season.
  • Rookie end Cedric Johnson picked up a sack, further cementing his case for the final roster in the wake of the Myles Murphy injury.
  • Rookie Jermaine Burton lit up the field late in the game, just like in the opener, even scoring a touchdown.

 

Key Stat

4 for 56 and 1 TD: This is big one fans will want to know — Jermaine Burton’s statline over the course of just five targets on the night. Not a bad showing, all things considered.

 

Game Balls

LB Maema Njongmeta: Guess who led the team in tackles for a third straight preseason game? Say hello to the final roster.

WR Charlie Jones: That huge return on special teams was a brutally important reminder of Jones’ importance in winning the field position battle next season.

 

Top Takeaway

By the books: It doesn’t really feel like final cuts should be all that surprising for the Bengals this year. Perhaps most interesting will be whether they look to the waiver wire or free agency for help after the injury update on Myles Murphy.

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Bengals injury update on key rookie provides good news

A good update on a key Bengals injury as a rookie works his way back.

The Cincinnati Bengals will rely on some key rookies to help the middle of the defense in 2024.

One of those, third-rounder McKinnley Jackson, seems to be well on his way back from an injury, too.

Pro Football Network’s Jay Morrison recently wrote the following about Jackson’s around the team: “Rookie third-round pick McKinnley Jackson is no longer using crutches to get around but is still wearing a large brace on his right knee.”

Removing crutches from the equation seems like good news for Jackson, whose injury that saw him carted off a field resulted in roster moves on August 8.

Jackson, alongside second-rounder Kris Jenkins, is a big part of the plan for a Bengals team attempting to compensate for the loss of DJ Reader in free agency.

Both rookies have a shot at playing time on the interior next season in a rotation with B.J. Hill and free-agent signee Sheldon Rankins.

It still remains unclear if Jackson will be ready in time for Week 1. But with the edge suffering a rash of injuries too — the latest is Myles Murphy — the team needs him in the rotation on the front seven, if possible.

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Bengals storylines, players to watch in preseason finale vs. Colts

The biggest things to keep an eye on when the Bengals host the Colts to end the preseason.

The Cincinnati Bengals close out the preseason against the Indianapolis Colts and have some tough decisions to make before final cuts next week.

Here is a quick look at the biggest storylines and details to watch on Thursday night as the Bengals once again go without their starters.

 

Jermaine Burton Watch

Where does Jermaine Burton line up now? Does he see the field with the backup offense at all? The rookie had that weird, late usage in the preseason opener, then was notably a returner on special teams for the first time in his career in the second game. He might get more usage there, at least.

 

The Tight End Battle

Will the Bengals keep five? Erick All is one of the big three they keep. But the veteran Tanner Hudson and late-round rookie Tanner McLachlan are tougher to figure out. One expert has already warned the Bengals against trying to slip McLachlan onto the practice squad.

 

Running Back

Will another name emerge? Trayveon Williams is safe behind Chase Brown and Zack Moss. But Chris Evans is out for the year, so an undrafted name like Elijah Collins has a chance to make a serious impression.

 

Cedric Johnson

Suddenly, the late-round rookie has a serious shot at the final 53. Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard have already dealt with injuries this summer. They need to keep Joseph Ossai fresh and Myles Murphy just went down with an injury. Johnson, with a push, can make the 53, if not be a primary rotation guy if injuries happen during the regular season.

 

Maema Njongmeta

Is the undrafted rookie ‘backer going to lead the team in tackles for the third straight game? He feels like a lock for the final 53, but Joe Bachie has the advantage of knowing the system.

 

Safety

Things are getting interesting behind the big three. Tycen Anderson is back from his injury and making plays. But breakout late-round rookie
Daijahn Anthony looks like he deserves a spot, too. Will they keep five?

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Bengals warned against trying to hide breakout TE on practice squad

One expert says the Bengals won’t get away with slipping a sleeper onto the practice squad during final cuts.

The Cincinnati Bengals suddenly have a very good problem at the tight end position.

What was once a question mark that rotated one-offs as the top guys on the depth chart for Joe Burrow has morphed into a strength — so much so, the team might have to roster at least five tight ends at cut downs soon.

And sixth-round rookie Tanner McLachlan might just be one of them.

McLachlan is projected to be a distant fifth on the depth chart and in danger of losing a roster spot. Mike Gesicki arrived via free agency to act as the No. 1 option, Drew Sample’s role is locked down, Tanner Hudson broke out last year and fourth-rounder Erick All is a high-upside lock who likely only fell in the draft due to his injury history.

But as Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson put it recently, the Bengals might not have a choice when it comes to McLachlan:

Again, a good problem to have. At this point, if the staff really feels the numbers crunch, they might instead opt to take their chances that Hudson slips through the cracks. He’ll turn 30 in October, and while last year was good, McLachlan is 25.

The Bengals have to be thinking about the long-term at the position right now. If Gesicki breaks out, he’ll be the latest Burrow tight end to go make bank elsewhere. And if he doesn’t, he might be gone, anyway.

In theory, All is the No. 1 of the future, but there are injury concerns. That might leave McLachlan, whose underusage at Arizona might’ve helped push him to the Bengals later in the sixth round than he had any business going.

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Bengals’ hyped rookie gets huge endorsement from veteran player

Based on what a veteran has to say, this Bengals rookie might be around for a long time.

Cincinnati Bengals fans and media have hyped seventh-round pick Matt Lee as a great value and sleeper rookie for some time now.

As it turns out, that hype might be spreading through Paycor Stadium, too, due to the work the former Miami Hurricanes starter has put in this summer.

Lee has passed the eye test from an outsider’s perspective during training camp and preseason games, sure.

But more important? A ringing endorsement from current starting center Ted Karras.

“For a center his size, his anchor (is impressive),” Karras said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “He’s got strength I don’t think he initially gets credit for. I think he’s been a willing rookie to learn and asks anyone questions, but not in a corny way, and using that information to help him win blocks.”

Lee has seemed on pace to potentially crack the final 53 for a little while now, perhaps moving Trey Hill out of the way in the process. Otherwise, the Bengals would have to hope no other teams notice if they attempt to slip him onto the practice squad at final cuts next week.

While the team did give Karras an extension this offseason, it does seem like the Bengals have stumbled into a solid mentor-rookie combo that could secure things for the future — provided things keep moving the way they have so far for the 237th pick in the draft.

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Quick thoughts on Bengals’ third depth chart of the preseason

Some quick reactions to the final preseason Cincinnati Bengals depth chart.

On a short turnaround to Thursday’s preseason finale, the Cincinnati Bengals have already issued their third depth chart.

Like those before it, the depth chart is about as “unofficial’ as it gets and more something for the team to check off a required list before kickoff.

Still, there are some interesting things going on worth pointing out:

  • For all the speculation about rookie WR Jermaine Burton, his spot on the depth chart hasn’t changed, and he’s not one of the many names listed on the special teams returners section.
  • Then again, RB Chris Evans, now on injured reserve, is still listed on the back end of the kickoff returner spot.
  • The upstart Jaxson Kirkland who was promoted to second-team tackle in the second preseason game is still on the list as a guard, so take that with a grain of salt.
  • Exciting draft pick TE Erick All is fourth on this rendition of the chart, although notably above Tanner McLachlan.
  • Fan favorite and undrafted breakout LB Maema Njongmeta is still buried on this chart, but that doesn’t figure to be the case by cut-down day.
  • This chart still has CB DJ Turner over Dax Hill, but it’s near-impossible to see that being true by Week 1.

The chart, courtesy of CLNS Media’s Mike Petraglia:

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