The Cincinnati Bengals wrapped up a perfect preseason on Friday night, beating the Philadelphia Eagles 30-13 to finish 3-0. And while the scoreline was a clean ending to August, the bigger takeaway was how two defensive rookies kept pushing their way into the conversation for real roles.
Tacario Davis has been one of the strongest late-summer risers. Over the past couple of weeks, he’s put together quality work both in games and in camp, and that momentum has helped him climb past the early assumption that DJ Ivey would be the first corner off the bench behind the starters on the outside. Davis has made that look a lot less settled.
What stands out with Davis is the complete package he’s showing right now: physical tackling, reliability, rare length and straight-line speed. He also picked up his first interception on a pass meant for Philadelphia first round draft selection Makai Lemon.
There were real doubts about the pick when it was made, including concerns that it came a round early because of his recent injury history and questions about whether he could change direction well enough to stay with quicker receivers. That part is still a concern, but so far Davis has answered plenty of the rest.
With both DJ Turner and Dax Hill entering contract years, he could be in line to become a full-time starter next year.
Landon Robinson also made his case impossible to ignore. He officially landed on the Bengals’ initial 53-man roster on Sunday after finishing the preseason with 10 pressures and 4 sacks, according to PFF.
Both marks were best in the NFL during the preseason. Robinson kept showing the same traits all month: burst off the snap, nonstop effort and the kind of strength in both the lower and upper body that shows up fast on tape.
His performance against Philadelphia may not have popped the way his first two preseason games did, but he was steady enough to reinforce why he belongs. The next question is whether the Bengals dress him on the 46-man roster against the Buccaneers.
His potential usage as a goal-line fullback could help open that door. Even if he starts out inactive, the expectation is that he’ll end up playing meaningful snaps for Cincinnati at some point this season.
In Other News...
Bengals Added A Tackle Orlando Brown Clearly Believes In
The Bengals added another big body to the mix in Myles Hinton, the former Eagles tackle who brings the kind of size and athleticism that can at least make the roster conversation interesting. Orlando Brown Jr. made clear he thinks the move makes sense, pointing to Hintons tools as a reason to be encouraged, which matters in a room where every bit of depth along the line can shape how the season looks for Joe Burrow and the offense.
There is still plenty around the edges for Cincinnati to sort out, from Joe Giles-Harris special-teams role to the way Trey Hendricksons contract situation continues to influence the teams draft-pick outlook. And while Burrow has stayed pointed toward the bigger picture, the Bengals are also dealing with the kind of roster-building decisions that feed larger expectations, including the familiar chatter about whether this group can turn those assumptions into something real. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals May Be Fast-Tracking Joe Burrows Next Big Protection Test
The Bengals have been using practice to work through a quiet but important part of their offensive future, putting rookie center Connor Lew across from defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to sharpen the rookies game. Lew is still coming back from a torn ACL, but the team views him as a possible long-term successor to Ted Karras, which makes every rep part of a bigger evaluation for Cincinnatis offensive line plans.
Lawrence, a two-time All-Pro, is exactly the kind of test the Bengals want in camp if they are serious about preparing Lew for a bigger role down the line. For a team trying to keep Joe Burrow protected, the center spot remains one of the most important transition points on the roster, and Cincinnati appears intent on making sure Lew gets no easy path to that next step. [Read more 🡒]
JaMarr Chase Just Gave Bengals Fans A New Off-Field Reason To Care
JaMarr Chase has turned his off-field profile into another talking point for Bengals fans, unveiling a new collection with activewear brand Fabletics as the partnership reaches its third drop. The line brings together performance and casual pieces, with 25 styles ranging from cargo pants and oversized tees to joggers, shorts and hoodies, and it is available online as well as at Fabletics stores nationwide.
The rollout also gives Cincinnati-area shoppers a local tie-in, with exclusive items set aside for the Kenwood, Ohio location. For a player whose influence already stretches well beyond Sundays, the latest collection is another reminder that Chases presence around the franchise keeps growing in ways that have nothing to do with the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]