After Saturday’s practice was a bit abbreviated due to weather, the Cincinnati Bengals were back at the practice fields outside of Paycor Stadium as they are officially in game week. With a matchup against the Detroit Lions on Thursday, the team is finally preparing to go up against another team.
Head coach Zac Taylor told the media that starters would play some on Thursday night, so that will give us a look at how the depth chart appears, at least at this point in camp. The offense is largely the same
as last season, but our first look at the revamped defense will be interesting.
Hall of Fame presence
Pro Football Hall of Famer and Bengals great left tackle Anthony Munoz was in attendance for Sunday’s practice. Dan Hoard caught a photo of him catching up with Amarius Mims before the team took the field. Any advice Mims could get from Munoz is always helpful, as the third-year right tackle looks to reach his All-Pro potential.
August heat is in full swing
The summer heat was in full force, with a feels-like temperature of 90 degrees just before 11 am. Paul Dehner Jr. reported that the team would do plenty of 11-0n-11 work, so the team will battle it out in the heat.
Two starting DBs sidelined
Dax Hill has dealt with some hamstring tightness, so the team is likely being cautious with him. Presumably a veteran’s rest day for Bryan Cook, with no reports of any injuries for him. Rookie Tacario Davis and D.J. Ivey have been taking second team reps so far in camp, so look for them both to get snaps in Hill’s absence.
Free agent signee Kyle Dugger was taking the first team reps in place of Cook.
Shemar Stewart and B.J. Hill updates
Shemar Stewart’s recovery appears to be going well. He was seen walking around the practice field, without a brace on his left knee or a noticeable limp. After a scary sequence early in camp, Stewart avoided the worst case scenario. There isn’t a clear timeline for his return, but things appear to be progressing well.
B.J. Hill also appears to be progressing well. Putting on pads and a helmet is a good sign for him to hopefully return to practice soon. Hill has been on the physically unable to perform list since camp opened, but will hopefully be ready to go by Week 1.
Touchdown or fumble?
The Bengals’ offense moved the ball well early, leading to a debatable ending. Andrei Iosivas took a pass from Joe Burrow toward the end zone and appeared to score. Slowing the video down, it looks like Bralyn Lux may knock the ball out of Iosivas’ hands before he breaks the plane of the goal line.
Bread and butter still works
The defense got a few stops before Burrow found Tee Higgins for a jump ball touchdown it feels like we’ve seen a hundred times. As the offense has been working on their under-center game in camp, we have seen clips of them getting back to their standard, under-center offense to get some momentum. DJ Ivey has had some good reps against Tee Higgins this camp, but Higgins wins this round.
