The Cincinnati Bengals may be getting another body back in the secondary soon, and Jalen Davis is now back in the mix.
Cincinnati opened Davis’ 21-day practice window, and he was a full participant in his first practice back. That’s a positive sign, even if the Bengals appear likely to stick with Josh Newton against the Steelers on Sunday Night Football. The bigger question is whether Davis gets activated before the game as extra insurance at cornerback.
That position has been a concern for the Bengals behind DJ Turner and Dax Hill. Josh Newton has recently taken on a larger role as DJ Ivey has struggled in the spot that had been penciled in for him this year.
Elsewhere around the Bengals conversation, Amarius Mims continues to draw plenty of attention. The Bengals made a big bet on him, and he has already outperformed expectations by blowing past the draft-day ceiling many had placed on him. The view from there is simple: he has been the best pass-protecting right tackle in football and is putting together one of the best seasons ever at the position.
There’s also been some frustration around the way compensatory picks are discussed, with the point being made that the process should be easier to understand than it is. And Cordell Volson is still a source of frustration for at least one observer.
Another familiar talking point has also come up again after Cincinnati’s recent wins. A Super Bowl champion questioned the Bengals’ hype, pointing to victories over “bottom of the barrel” teams.
The response is that this standard keeps getting applied to Cincinnati in a way that doesn’t really hold up, especially since other teams in the same mix have mostly faced the same opponents. The only teams mentioned as being on the other side of that comparison were the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns twice.
Looking ahead, the Bengals will face the Washington Commanders next week on Monday Night Football. That means Cincinnati will have back-to-back games against opponents coming off extended rest, since Washington played on Thursday night this week. The Commanders also picked up a win that gave their season new life.
There was also a reaction to the Denver Broncos’ handling of a trade, with the suggestion that they may have pulled off something even worse than the Bengals not understanding the compensatory pick formula. The issue, as described, was telling a team after the deadline that they would still make the deal for less compensation.
And one more concern is waiting in the background: the safety who intercepted Joe Burrow three times is now on a team the Bengals may have to face. Whether that was a one-game spike or something more is still to be seen.
In Other News...
Joe Burrow Just Put Bengals Facility Criticism Back In The Spotlight
Joe Burrow and the Bengals are getting ready for a prime-time meeting with the Steelers on Sunday night after a win over the Falcons, but the conversation around the team has drifted well beyond the standings. Social media has again taken aim at Cincinnatis practice setup, with the cross-street walk to the field becoming the latest symbol of a facility issue that has followed the franchise for years.
Mike Brown has already made clear the team is not chasing anything new or flashy, and the Bengals new lease connected to the stadium renovation does not include an indoor practice facility. So while the focus on the field is on Pittsburgh, the backdrop around the team remains the same familiar debate, one that keeps resurfacing whenever the Bengals are in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals May Finally Have A First Round Answer At Linebacker
A fresh mock draft from NBC Sports analyst Connor Rogers has the Bengals looking ahead to a possible first-round fix at linebacker, with Notre Dames Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa projected to land in Cincinnati in 2027. The appeal is easy to see: he brings a reputation for stout run defense, some pass-rushing juice and enough coverage ability to fit what teams want from a modern linebacker.
For a Bengals defense that has continued to search for a true long-term answer in the middle, the projection at least offers a name worth filing away. Viliamu-Asas talent is obvious, but so is the concern in his background, with two ACL injuries already part of the conversation around him, which is why any early draft buzz around him will come with plenty of caution attached. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Burrow Has Bengals Fans Arguing About The Franchise Again
Joe Burrow and the Bengals head into Sunday nights matchup with the Steelers coming off a win over the Falcons, but the conversation around the team has drifted far beyond the scoreboard. Social media has once again put Cincinnatis practice setup under a microscope, with criticism centered on the fact that players have to cross a street to get from the facility to the field.
Mike Browns stance has only sharpened the debate. The Bengals owner said the team is not looking for new facilities, and the new lease connected to the stadium renovation does not include an indoor practice facility, leaving a familiar franchise issue hanging in plain view as the spotlight shifts back to football. [Read more 🡒]