The Cincinnati Bengals’ first padded practice of training camp didn’t turn into a wrestling match, and that was the notable part.
After their first off day of camp, Monday’s session stayed controlled. The hits were there, but the kind of chaos that usually shows up once the pads come on never really arrived.
Safeties Kyle Dugger and Russ Yeast delivered the loudest pops, while cornerback Brayln Lux and Oren Books combined for a double shot on Tahj Brooks. The closest thing to a real dust-up came in the red zone, where Dexter Lawrence and Dylan Fairchild exchanged words before Bryan Cook stepped in and pushed Fairchild away.
The defense kept winning the more important collisions, too. With no live tackling periods, a lot of the day’s contact came at the catch point, and the pass rush made life hard on Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco.
Cornerback Dax Hill liked what he saw.
“Oh, we love that. We definitely love that,” cornerback Dax Hill said.
“If you have that, it makes it a lot easier for us. The quarterback only has a certain amount of time to get the ball out, so they've been doing a great job so far of applying pressure.”
Jordan Battle was active all over the field, breaking up passes against both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, with the Higgins play helped along by a tip from linebacker Barrett Carter. Battle also stopped Chase Brown in the end zone on a run.
Hill added a red-zone breakup against Chase on a wheel route out of the backfield, and Cedric Johnson got in on the action by batting down a screen. Hill also knocked the ball loose from Mike Gesicki on a throw over the middle.
“I just made a good play,” Hill said. “I’m not sure if would have been incomplete or a fumble. I just wanted to make I got the ball out.”
The biggest offensive highlight belonged to rookie wideout Colbie Young. The Georgia fourth-round pick went up to snag a Joe Flacco throw along the sideline over Josh Newton, showing off the kind of high-point ability that can turn heads fast in camp.
“We got good leverage on the corner,” Young said. “We've been watching it on film and got the coverage we wanted and Flacco made a great throw.
I just went up and got it. Just concentrate on the ball and bring it in.
“It’s definitely a confidence booster having that trust from Flacco to put it out there.”
Young later came through again on a tight red-zone look against Hill, and Hill had a fitting line for the moment, referencing “The Godfather” while talking about giving up the completion.
“Sometimes they gotta get the ball. Sometimes we take the ball away,” Hill added.
“Next time might be that. But it was a great catch, great ball.”
There were a few notable absences as well. Defensive tackle B.J.
Hill was on the Physically Unable to Perform list, tight end Eric Kattus remained on the Non-Football Injury list, and defensive end Shemar Stewart did not practice. Rookie safety Isaiah Nwokobia was also out with an undisclosed issue, though he was on the side field doing rehab work.
It was another strong day for the defense, but not so much for Burrow. He didn’t look sharp again, and this time he wasn’t able to steady himself the way he did Saturday. Whether it’s rust or an adjustment to more under-center work, he hasn’t quite looked like himself over the last few practices.
The offense did get one clean moment from the kicking game. On a token rush early in practice, the Bengals went 6 for 6 from 35, 40, 45, 48, 50 and 53.
On the pass rush side, Mafe beat Burrow a couple of times and forced him into either an inaccurate throw or a decision to give up on the play and toss it away.
The Bengals are back on the field Tuesday for another practice open to the public. After Wednesday’s off day, they’ll have a Thursday practice for season ticket holders and waitlist members, then finish the week with a Friday night session open to the public.
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