Dexter Lawrence wasted no time reminding everybody why the Bengals went after him this offseason.
During Cincinnati’s joint practice with the Chicago Bears, Lawrence kept showing up in the middle of the action and making life miserable for Caleb Williams. He started by tipping a pass that turned into an interception.
“Dexter Lawrence just got a INT off a pass he deflected. Showed today exactly why the Bengals traded for him this offseason,” ESPN's Ben Baby wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Not long after that, Lawrence struck again. This time he came through with a sack right up the middle and knocked the Bears back in a situational drill that began with 3:30 left on the clock.
“Lawrence again. Sack up the middle to push the Bears back in this game situational drill that started with 3:30 on the clock. Bengals win that period with an Evan McPherson field goal,” Baby wrote.
For Cincinnati, that kind of day is exactly what they were hoping for when they made one of their offseason moves to strengthen the defense. The Bengals are expected to get back to the playoffs this season, and Lawrence is already giving them a reason to believe that investment is going to pay off.
There were questions earlier in the offseason about whether Lawrence might be on the back side of his career, but he pushed back with a blunt answer through Baby.
“If you turn on the tape, you'll see what you're supposed to see,” Lawrence said via Baby. “It's more about proving myself right.
I know who I am. People have been talking about me my whole life.
It's just the way this game goes. It's just the way I've been in the spotlight my whole life.”
If Lawrence keeps producing like this, it could be a huge boost for a Bengals team that has long leaned on its offense to carry the load. The hope in Cincinnati is simple: if the defense can rise to that same level, the wins should follow.
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