Tag: Bengals training camp

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.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Is a Ja’Marr Chase extension incoming after WR’s return to practice?

Ja’Marr Chase is back…is an extension next?

Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase returned to practice on Sunday, roughly two weeks before the start of the regular season.

So the obvious question is next — is extension news about to break?

The old adage “never say never” certainly applies. Before Sunday, Chase sat out the entirety of training camp. Minus one unexplained day (which could have been anything), Chase was always present, just not active.

Chase’s contract “hold-in” situation was a little unorthodox because he has two years left on his rookie deal. Still, Justin Jefferson resetting the market likely forced the issue slightly. That made it reasonable to think Chase might want a deal done this summer, although waiting to see what numbers Brandon Aiyuk and CeeDee Lamb pulled in on their own possible extensions would cause a slowing of talks.

Bengals president Mike Brown has made it clear a deal is a matter of “when” and not “if” for Chase, going as far as saying the team would “bend over backward” to get something done.

Not all that long ago, though, Chase had also made it clear he wasn’t in a hurry while waiting for other wideouts to reset the market.

While this might seem like an uncomfortable staredown between a star player and Mike Brown, it might also simply be Chase making sure he doesn’t suffer an injury that would impact talks.

Basically, if one were thinking this was a “hold-in” that doubles as Chase being careful, one would have suggested he return to action with the offense a week or so before the season — it doesn’t take long to get that timing with Joe Burrow down, after all.

That’s a longer way of saying that it wouldn’t be a shock if an extension happened between now and the Week 1 kickoff. But things waiting until next offseason, as always expected, seems just as likely, too.

Either way, if things were actually negative between Chase and the Bengals, fans would have seen whispers of it via credible leaks by now.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

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.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

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.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

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.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Dax Hill’s breakout summer ends with stunning PFF grades

The grades say it all about Dax Hill’s breakout.

Cincinnati Bengals former first-round pick Dax Hill looks en route to a major breakout.

Questions chased Hill into his third season this year as he made the switch from safety to cornerback.

On paper, Hill always had the athleticism and skills to thrive as a boundary corner. But Cam Taylor-Britt currently has a lock on the No. 1 CB label for the team and former second-rounder DJ Turner has obvious upside at the opposite spot.

But over the course of training camp, Hill has slowly taken over with the first-team defense and looked downright stellar in preseason action.

If the eye test isn’t good enough for onlookers, the Pro Football Focus grades tell quite a story, too:

This is certialy the highest, best end of possible outcomes for the Bengals and Hill — so far. After he and others struggled to replace the loss of Jessie Bates effectively last year, the team signed outside free agent Geno Stone and brought back Vonn Bell to tandem with Jordan Battle, another rising star in the secondary.

As of right now, Hill is a major reason that cornerback strength has gone from a weakness to a strength for the Bengals in the span of one offseason. And if he continues on this path, the long-term outlook of the secondary is fantastic.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Bengals injury updates on Myles Murphy after training camp setback

An injury update on Bengals DE Myles Murphy.

Cincinnati Bengals second-year defender Myles Murphy was the latest defensive end to go down with an injury at training camp this week.

Murphy, it seems, will fare better than the others, though.

According to Bengals Talk’s James Rapien and followed up by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Murphy avoided a serious injury, with Tuesday’s non-contact injury resulting in a sprain.

That will keep Murphy on the shelf for an unknown amount of time, but it’s better than losing the 2023 first-round pick for an extended period. He’s heading into a critical second year after flashing as a rookie and the team is counting on him to reinforce the rotation currently led by Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard.

Hubbard was one of the other ends to go down with an injury during camp and is slowly working his way back after avoiding a serious-looking setback.

Cam Sample was another and was recently shifted to injured reserve.

The injuries have placed a bigger emphasis on the selection of sixth-round pick Cedric Johnson and other depth names. But if Murphy needs to miss time into the season, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the team look for outside help.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

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:

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Quick thoughts on Bengals’ second depth chart of the preseason

Some quick reactions to the latest Cincinnati Bengals depth chart.

The Cincinnati Bengals issued their second depth chart of the preseason this week ahead of the game against the Chicago Bears.

Like the first, the depth chart is very much “unofficial” and a formality the team does for the sake of it. But there are still some things to glean from it, so here are a few quick notes on the release:

  • Trenton Irwin still gets the nod as the starter slot man, but there’s no reason to think it’s not just a veteran thing. The Day 1 “starter” is probably Andrei Iosivas.
  • Trent Brown is the “starter” at right tackle, but he just left practice with back soreness, and Amarius Mims was pretty obviously the frontrunner before his pec injury.
  • Mike Gesicki isn’t technically TE1, which might end up being true based on snap counts because of Drew Sample‘s work as a blocker.
  • In the secondary, Dax Hill overtaking DJ Turner and Josh Newton overtaking Jalen Davis feels inevitable.
  • Jordan Battle, as expected, remains behind Vonn Bell and Geno Stone.

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Ja’Marr Chase ‘hold-in’ at Bengals training camp got another strange entry

The latest after Ja’Marr Chase missed a Bengals training camp practice.

The saga between the Cincinnati Bengals and Ja’Marr Chase hit another level on Tuesday before the team travels to partake in joint practices with the Chicago Bears ahead of a preseason encounter.

Chase was completely absent from practice. He’s been a non-participant yet very involved in an almost coach-like role throughout training camp.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor took a new slant in a post-practice meeting with reporters, too, for the first time shying away from his usual response that says the “plan” is the reason for Chase’s absences.

“Ja’Marr [is] day-to-day,” Taylor said. “We’ll take it one day a time.”

As fans know, a day-to-day description is usually something reserved for an injury description, but it certainly didn’t come off that way in footage provided by Fox 19’s Joe Danneman:

Chase has been a “hold-in” during camp as he awaits a new contract extension. Entering camp, it seemed unlikely a new deal would arrive before 2025, though Justin Jefferson recently resetting the market has changed that outlook, at least slightly.

Fans wondering if Chase’s sudden absence is related to the contract are justified, though it’s impossible to say whether it’s a sign of a full-blown holdout or progress on an upcoming extension. As always, the absence could be totally unrelated.

Either way, the Chase saga got another entry, with Taylor’s commentary on the situation suddenly changing too, so stay tuned.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]