The Bengals were back on the practice fields outside Paycor Stadium on Sunday and, with game week officially here, the work finally had a different feel to it. Cincinnati is set to face the Detroit Lions on Thursday, and head coach Zac Taylor said the starters will play some in that one, which should offer the first real glimpse at where the depth chart stands right now.
The offense is mostly the same group that fans saw last season, but the defense is the side that draws the eye first. That unit has been revamped, and Thursday night will be the first chance to see how it looks against another team.
Sunday’s practice also came with a notable visitor. Pro Football Hall of Famer and Bengals great left tackle Anthony Munoz was in attendance, and Dan Hoard captured him talking with Amarius Mims before the team went out to work. For a third-year right tackle trying to push toward All-Pro level, any chance to hear from Munoz carries real value.
The heat was no joke, either. Just before 11 a.m., the feels-like temperature was already 90 degrees, and Paul Dehner Jr. reported the Bengals planned to get plenty of 11-on-11 work in that weather.
There were a few injury-related situations worth watching. Dax Hill has been dealing with hamstring tightness, so the team appears to be taking it easy with him.
Bryan Cook’s absence looked more like a veteran rest day, and there were no reports of injury for him. With Hill out, rookie Tacario Davis and D.J.
Ivey have been getting second-team reps in camp, so both should see snaps in his absence.
Kyle Dugger was with the first team in Cook’s spot.
There was also encouraging movement from a pair of defensive linemen. Shemar Stewart was seen walking around the field without a brace on his left knee and without a noticeable limp, which suggests his recovery is trending in the right direction after a scary sequence early in camp. There still isn’t a clear timeline for his return, but the signs look better.
B.J. Hill also appears to be moving forward.
He was wearing pads and a helmet, a good indicator that he may be close to getting back on the field. Hill has been on the physically unable to perform list since camp opened, but the hope is that he’ll be ready by Week 1.
On the field, the Bengals’ offense had some success early and finished with a play that left plenty of room for debate. Andrei Iosivas caught a pass from Joe Burrow near the end zone and appeared to score, though a slowed-down look suggests Bralyn Lux may have jarred the ball loose before Iosivas broke the plane.
The defense answered with a few stops before Burrow hit Tee Higgins on a jump-ball touchdown that looked very familiar. With the Bengals working on their under-center game in camp, there have also been clips of the offense getting back to its standard look to build some rhythm.
D.J. Ivey has had his moments against Higgins this summer, but this time Higgins won the rep.
In Other News...
Joe Burrow Getting Knocked Down Created A Bengals Practice Tension
A routine Bengals practice at Paycor Stadium got a little more attention than usual when the defense and offense collided in a way every team dreads. During a drill, a Bengals lineman was engaged with center Ted Karras when Joe Burrow ended up on the ground, a moment that briefly sharpened the focus on a session that otherwise kept moving at a steady pace.
Even so, the reaction around the field stayed measured, with teammates and coaches treating it like part of the work rather than a warning sign. Defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery acknowledged the effort on the play, and the team soon flipped practice directions, sending the backups through their series on the other side while the first-team moment passed without much drama. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Defense Just Got A Camp Sign Fans Needed
Training camp has delivered a small but meaningful update for a Bengals defense that spent the offseason trying to get sturdier across the board. Cincinnati has already added pieces to help on that side of the ball, and every bit of progress from the returnees matters because the units ceiling depends on getting more bodies back in the mix and back into football shape.
Shemar Stewart has been around the field while wearing a sleeve on his left leg, a sign the rookie is still working through his recovery. BJ Hill, meanwhile, has been edging closer to full participation, joining practice work in helmet and pads as the Bengals continue to monitor how quickly their defensive front can come together before the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Cashius Howell Is Forcing His Way Into The Bengals Pass Rush Plans
Cashius Howell arrived in Cincinnati with second-round expectations, but training camp has quickly given the Bengals reason to believe he can matter right away. The former Texas A&M edge rusher has stood out for his speed, explosiveness and strength, traits that have translated well against a Bengals offensive line still sorting through its summer work.
What has made Howell especially intriguing is how he has looked in a role that could expand sooner than planned. With Shemar Stewart sidelined, the Bengals need more from the edge group, and Howell has been pressing his case for a significant snap share on the defensive line. The early signs suggest he is doing more than just learning the defense - he is making it harder for the coaching staff to keep him off the field. [Read more 🡒]