The Bengals got their first preseason test out of the way Thursday night, and there was enough on tape to keep Zac Taylor and his staff busy before joint practice with the Chicago Bears on Aug. 20.
Cincinnati edged the Lions 16-14, with most starters seeing at least some action. It was the kind of first exhibition game that gave the Bengals a little of everything: a few encouraging snaps, a few reminders of how fragile this whole thing can be, and a handful of rookies trying to force their way into the conversation.
Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and the starting offensive line opened together for one full drive, and every starter except Chase got a second series. Taylor didn’t feel the need to get any more out of Chase on the night.
The offense mixed runs and passes, with Burrow mostly operating under center as Cincinnati works to add more of that look into the scheme this season. The first four offensive plays with Burrow were under center.
The start was uneven. Burrow was sacked once and took another hit on a pass attempt, and the drive ended with a punt after a 16-yard catch by Chase.
In a preseason game that doesn’t count, those extra shots on Burrow still stand out. On the sack, Burrow held the ball longer than he likely would in a regular season game, but it was still a rough look for Orlando Brown Jr., who gave up pressure to Lions defensive end Eric O’Neill as Burrow was throwing.
Brown had an up and down season last year and told The Enquirer he’s in the best shape of his life heading into this season. Cincinnati needs that version of him. Brown protects Burrow’s blind side, and the Bengals need Burrow healthy if they’re going to reach the level they want on offense.
Burrow finished 5 of 6 for 39 yards with no touchdowns, while Chase Brown led the Bengals’ ground game with 16 yards on five carries.
On defense, there was only so much to read into with several key pieces out. Safety Bryan Cook, cornerback Dax Hill and slot cornerback Jalen Davis all missed the game, and the Lions didn’t play their starters on offense either, with Jared Goff watching from the sideline.
Even so, Jordan Battle made an early impression. With Cook out, Kyle Duggar started at safety next to Battle, and Battle picked off a pass on the Lions’ first series after Isaac TeSlaa tipped the ball away from himself. If the Bengals want a more opportunistic defense this year, that’s the kind of play they want to see.
Up front, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Myles Murphy and Lawrence started together and were on the field for three snaps before Lawrence and Allen came off. Kris Jenkins, meanwhile, got plenty of run in the first half and made it count with a quarterback hit and a sack.
The third-year defensive tackle has 4.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits in 29 games for Cincinnati, and after being taken 49th overall in the 2024 draft, he needs a strong August to show real progress. The Bengals added heavily to the defensive line this offseason, so every roster spot there matters.
The rookie who made the loudest push was tight end Jack Endries. Cincinnati used one of its two seventh-round picks on the Texas product, and while he hasn’t been a major training camp storyline with Erick All back and Mike Gesicki, Tanner Hudson and Drew Sample already in the mix, Endries flashed in a big way. He caught a four-yard touchdown from Joe Flacco, a play that gives him a real case as the roster battles tighten.
Duke Tobin and Taylor will review the 53-man roster after each preseason game, and it looked unlikely before camp that Cincinnati would keep five tight ends. Endries just made that discussion more interesting.
There were other rookie notes, too. Defensive end Cashius Howell logged a heavy first-half workload and recovered a fumble, giving himself a place on the stat sheet even without a sack or quarterback hit.
Wide receiver Colbie Young had an up-and-down debut, catching two of four targets for 28 yards, but he’ll keep getting chances because the Bengals have bigger plans for him down the road. Offensive lineman Brain Parker also got quality reps and even worked with the second-team offense in front of Flacco.
Two rookies did not play: cornerback Tacario Davis and offensive lineman Connor Lew.
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