Tag: Bengals

Raiders sign former Bengals draft pick after he visits with Saints

Former Bengals third-round pick Zach Carter visited the Saints this week. He played for their defensive line coach in college but ultimately signed with the Raiders:

This is interesting. The Las Vegas Raiders announced Thursday they had signed defensive tackle Zach Carter to their practice squad, just days after he visited with the New Orleans Saints, per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill.

Carter, 25, was a third-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2022 NFL draft but was waived last week. That’s after he played for Todd Grantham, the Saints’ defensive line coach, for three years in college at Florida. So clearly that relationship wasn’t enough to seal the deal, even though the Saints have a vacancy on their practice squad right now just like the Raiders.

Maybe Carter sees more opportunities to get on the field with Las Vegas. Bryan Bresee is seeing the lion’s share of snaps at defensive tackle for the Saints (225 in five games), followed by Nathan Shepherd (176 in five games) and Khalen Saunders (58 in two games). John Ridgeway (61 in three games) and Khristian Boyd (51 in four games) have been competing for that fourth spot in the rotation each week, and Kendal Vickers (21 snaps in Week 1) remains on the practice squad.

None of them are currently listed on the injury report, so this may have just been an opportunity to try and improve depth rather than a real search for more help.

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Bengals LB Germaine Pratt issues message after team’s OT loss

Bengals LB Germaine Pratt had something to say ahead of Week 6.

With the Cincinnati Bengals off to a 1-4 start, there’s been a lot of disappointment from players, coaches and fans. Linebacker Germaine Pratt let everyone know what he was thinking after the overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5.

“Look yourself in the mirror and get better,” Pratt posted to Twitter on Sunday after the game.

There’s nothing much more to say about such a poor start to the season for the Bengals, especially for the defense that is second to last in the league in points allowed with 29.0 per game given up, in front of only the Carolina Panthers which have allowed 33.0 per game.

The defense might not be playing well, but Pratt hasn’t been a part of that to this point in the season. The 28-year-old had another solid performance against the Ravens on Sunday with nine total tackles (six solo), the third game in a row he has reached that mark. His season total of 51 stops is just one short of linebacker Logan Wilson’s 52 for the year.

Losing Dax Hill to a season-ending injury might only make getting better tougher from this point, but the Bengals will have the chance to see what they can do against Daniel Jones and the New York Giants this coming week  on the road before they have another AFC North game in Cleveland a week later.

But as Pratt said, there’s nothing more to do than just get better moving forward, hopefully.

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Yes, Bengals OL is playing like one of the best units in NFL

The quiet success for the Bengals OL continues.

Through four weeks of the NFL season, it seems like the Cincinnati Bengals’ years-long attempt to strengthen the offensive line might be actually working this year.

So far this season, the Bengals have the third-best rate in the NFL when it comes to pressure allowed on the quarterback on true drop-back passes, according to Brett Kollmann of Underdog Fantasy. They are allowing pressures on just 26.4 percent of opportunities, behind just the Carolina Panthers (16.5) and the Indianapolis Colts (20.5).

The goal ever since Joe Burrow was drafted in 2020 was to find players on the line who could protect him well and allow him to work in the passing game without much pressure. With already two season-ending injuries in his career, the Bengals became even more serious about that this offseason, signing veteran right tackle Trent Brown.

But Brown suffered a torn patellar tendon in the Week 3 loss to the Washington Commanders, forcing Cincinnati to put first-round draft pick Amarius Mims to the test earlier than they would have hoped.

Mims was in contention for the starting job before the season but was sidelined by a pec injury that cost him the first two games of the season.

In the Week 4 win over the Carolina Panthers and former longtime Bengal Andy Dalton, Mims graded out at 75.7 from Pro Football Focus, which was fifth of all Cincinnati offensive players for the week. While there are tougher tests coming than the Panthers, Mims held up the strong play in his first start, and he could get even better the more experience he gets.

Whether the line will be able to keep up its elite early play is yet to be seen, but being so highly rated in the first four weeks of the season is a great sign for the offense going forward.

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Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt ascending to elite status

Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt is backing up trash talk with elite play.

Even though the Cincinnati Bengals are off to yet another slow start to begin the season, there have still been some bright spots to look at, like the emergence of third-year cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt.

The PFF Bengals’ Twitter account posted Taylor-Britt’s numbers through the first two games, and they show that he has become one of the better corners in the league. In 60 coverage snaps, he has allowed just three receptions, had one interception and forced an incompletion while receiving a coverage grade of 88.6, which is first among all cornerbacks.

Taylor-Britt found his name in the national conversation before the Week 2 game against the Kansas City Chiefs when he made some bold comments about rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy, but he backed them up by playing very well and bringing in an extremely impressive one-handed interception.

Now Taylor-Britt has made some comments about the Washington Commanders offense, which they play in Week 3, showing that his confidence is through the roof and he’s not afraid to talk trash to the opposing team, knowing he can back it up.

In 24 games with the Bengals, Taylor-Britt now has five interceptions, 19 passes defended and 114 total tackles, and he will try to continue his elite play for the full season, hoping to turn the season around after two losses.

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Chiefs TE Travis Kelce responds to criticism of pass interference call vs. Bengals: ‘We got fortunate’

Kansas City #Chiefs TE Travis Kelce responds to criticism of pass interference call vs. Bengals: ‘We got fortunate’ | @EdEastonJr

Last Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory sparked opinions from fans, analysts, and players on the game-winning drive.

During the latest episode of the New Heights podcast, Travis shares his thoughts on the infamous pass interference call on the Cincinnati Bengals rookie cornerback that led to the Chiefs’ game-winning field goal. Kelce acknowledged that both teams had chances to make plays long before the controversial call.

“Did we get lucky? Yeah, we got fortunate that they threw the flag on that 4th and 16,” said Kelce as he reiterated the importance of trying not to be in that situation. “At the end of the day, you can’t put it in the ref’s hands that late in the game. If you’re gonna put it in the ref’s hands, you’re playing with fire.”

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/vmZXamRjIQQ

Since last Sunday’s game, many have speculated on the referee’s decision, including Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons on his podcast. The Chiefs are moving on to their next opponent for Week 3, the Atlanta Falcons, on Sunday Night Football.

Chiefs DT Chris Jones responds to NFL stat correction: ‘Give me my half a sack back’

Kansas City #Chiefs DT Chris Jones responds to NFL stat correction: ‘Give me my half a sack back’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs are 2-0, and that’s the most important stat for a team heading into Week 3. However, another essential statistic is that one of their star players is unhappy with the league’s decision.

Chiefs All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones didn’t hold back his frustration with the NFL during Thursday’s press conference for removing his half-a sack initially credited to him from Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

“Alright, listen, I’m trying my best not to get fined, but in my nine years of playing, three days later, my hand was clearly on him. I don’t know who viewed it. I can’t tell you how many eyes viewed this play.” said Jones. “Play 29, but who’s counting that we both touched him at the same time.”

Jones is known for being very detailed regarding his sack statistics, as evident in securing his contract incentive bonus during Week 18 last season.

“I look at it like this. We go back to last year. I wrap up Russell Wilson, bringing him down. George (Karlaftis) touched him as he was going down to give him a half (sack), right? I don’t report it, but if we (are) that critical on sacks, It would have put me at 11 sacks last year. “Said Jones. “This year, I said I worked so hard to get half (a sack) we’re gonna pull it. We need to get more eyes on it.”

The veteran pass rusher comically declared he’s bringing this to everyone’s attention to help the many sports betting and fantasy football players affected by the stat change.

“We are only human. We make mistakes, but I’m trusting in the league,” said Jones. “and all the individuals that partake in the statistic-wise, and all the fantasy players that whoever won Sunday and lost yesterday, that we able to redeem that and get their money back, because I’m on you guys side.”

Jones would reference finding out about the situation on X (Twitter) and continue venting, hilariously mentioning George Karlaftis’ offer to buy him dinner.

“On Twitter, and honest to God, out of my nine years of plan, I never seen it. I never seen it happen. It never, never happened to me. It was a first for me.” said Jones. “I was traumatized and destroyed by it. Very emotional, as you can see, I don’t want the dinner. I want my half a sack. Okay, keep that dinner. I don’t want the dinner, just give me my half a sack back. I worked for it. I’m not asking for anything that I didn’t earn.”

Joe Mixon calls out NFL over same issue Ja’Marr Chase just encountered

Joe Mixon stands with Ja’Marr Chase on this topic.

In the Cincinnati Bengals Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was tackled in the fourth quarter and seemed to have an issue with the way he was brought down.

He screamed at the referee who he thought should have made the call for a hip-drop tackle – a rule that was put into place over this past offseason – and received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that made it tougher for the Bengals to secure a first down late.

Former Bengal and now Houston Texan Joe Mixon had a similar thing happen to him over the weekend with no flag thrown a play that he was injured on, and he let his feelings on it be known on Twitter after the game.

“The NFL and NFLPA made it a rule and an emphasis for a reason,” Mixon wrote on Twitter. “Time to put your money where your mouth is.”

Mixon did return to the game, but only had one carry on seven snaps for the rest of the game.

He was told by the referees that the play did not violate the ban when he asked why there was no flag. There will still be fines for Week 2 announced over the weekend and T.J. Edwards, Mixon’s tackler, could still be fined for the tackle, so the NFL could still change its tune on the call. The same could happen for Chase’s, a play which luckily didn’t injure him.

https://twitter.com/Joe_MainMixon/status/1835546553462792333

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Cowboys All-Pro linebacker criticizes the referees for Chiefs’ Week 2 victory over Bengals

Dallas #Cowboys All-Pro linebacker criticizes the referees for Kansas City #Chiefs’ Week 2 victory over Cincinnati #Bengals | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ victory on Sunday over the Cincinnati Bengals created much controversy amongst fans and players around the league.

The infamous 4th and 16 when Patrick Mahomes threw an incomplete pass intended for wide receiver Rashee Rice, but referees called pass interference on Bengals rookie Daijahn Anthony. The penalty allowed the setup for Harrison Butker’s game-winning field goal.

The result of this play didn’t sit well with Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, who vented on a recent episode of his podcast, ‘The Edge with Micah Parsons.’

“It was very shaky. That game was pretty crazy; a lot of calls went both ways, and I’m going to be honest, I feel like the refs did favor the Chiefs a little bit more,” said Parsons. “But at the end of the day, you can’t put the game in the refs’ hands.”

Parsons’ comments on a game he didn’t participate in are raising eyebrows since, on that same day, his Cowboys were dominated by the New Orleans Saints. The 44-19 loss was one of the more shocking results of Week 2.

Chiefs will reportedly place RB Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve

Kansas City #Chiefs will reportedly place running back Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ victory Sunday over the Cincinnati Bengals may have come at a cost to one of their offensive weapons.

According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Chiefs starting running back Isiah Pacheco is expected to land on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury late in the fourth quarter on Sunday. The third-year breakout star “underwent X-rays last night and will undergo an MRI today to determine if there is a fracture and or ligament damage to his ankle.” said Schefter. “But they are preparing for him to land on injured reserve.”

Pacheco hobbled off the field during the game’s final drive as rookie Carson Steele and veteran Samaje Perine took his place. The former Rutgers standout was seen wearing a walking boot and on crutches leaving Arrowhead Stadium last night.

If the Chiefs decide to place Pacheco on injured reserve, he will be required to miss four games. He joins a group of offensive players already on the reserve, including Clyde Edwards-Helaire and ‘Hollywood’ Brown. Pacheco was off to an impressive start to the season, rushing 90 yards on 19 carries in Sunday’s victory before the injury.

Chiefs Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes react to Wanya Morris’ touchdown vs. Bengals

Kansas City #Chiefs Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes react to Wanya Morris’ touchdown vs. Cincinnati #Bengals | @EdEastonJr

The thrilling victory by the Kansas City Chiefs over the Cincinnati Bengals by a game-winning field goal slightly overshadowed a special moment during the game.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went into great detail with reporters on Sunday to describe the unexpected touchdown pass to offensive lineman Wanya Morris.

“Obviously, it was a great drive. I mean, running the football, getting downhill, and so they have to bring more and more people in the game – bigger people,” said Mahomes. “(Head) Coach (Andy) Reid dialed it up at the right time. Wanya (Morris) had been in a couple plays (and) blocking as that extra o-lineman. Right when they thought they were going to shoot and make a play, he released him into the flat. I mean, if you look at the play, Wanya’s open, and then I threw it, and Travis (Kelce) was also wide open.”

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1835443652098978137

Head coach Andy Reid’s unique play was another fun wrinkle in his game plan to constantly confuse opposing defenses. The second-year offensive tackle, who was expected to be an extra blocker at the goal line, made sure to be in perfect position for the score.

“Yeah, that was good, no, he (Wanya Morris) did a nice job.” said Reid. “that was a great job. When you’re that open, sometimes you can freak out if you’re not – (he) secured it, and it was all good, that was great.”

The long-time head coach did not label the touchdown play, “No, no name.” said Reid. “Too early in the season.”