Rain pushed the Cincinnati Bengals indoors to open Day 4 of training camp, but once the clouds cleared, the practice still delivered plenty to sort through - and a few things Joe Burrow almost never gives you.
Burrow’s day was a little jagged by his standards. He sailed a throw in an early routes-on-air drill, though Tanner Hudson made the play look better by soaring up for a one-handed catch that sent teammates into a roar. Once the Bengals got outside for 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work, the misses kept showing up in spots they usually don’t.
One of the sharper mistakes came on an under-center play-action rep, a look that has been a regular part of the offseason. Burrow rolled right and chose to check down to Drew Sample, but the throw was behind the tight end. Jalen Davis, trailing on the play, got his hands on it and picked it off before it hit the ground.
“It’s always a great feeling when you get an interception. We’re just trying to keep stacking the days and let the party go around, see what plays we can get them.
“When rush and coverage work together - we had (Boye) Mafe up there getting good pressure on him - things happen like that.”
Mafe was active in the backfield throughout Saturday, with Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen also making life difficult up front. Ted Karras didn’t sugarcoat what the offense was dealing with.
“I don't think this was our best day as an offense, especially O-line,” Karras said.
Burrow had more off-target moments in the opening 11-on-11 period. On the first snap, he underthrew Ja’Marr Chase on a deep ball, giving DJ Turner II a chance to break it up. On the first throw of the second series, Burrow missed Andrei Iosivas, and the ball wound up in Ja’Sir Taylor’s hands before Taylor dropped it.
For a quarterback who usually settles in quickly, that kind of stretch stands out. But it didn’t last.
The Bengals finished the day in the red zone, and Burrow started connecting again, throwing touchdowns to multiple receivers. One came on a clean strike to Chase after he beat Turner off the line. Another came after Lawrence got through Karras and forced Burrow to his right, where Mitch Tinsley adjusted, stopped, cut back left and hauled in a diving touchdown.
“If you saw that last period, I'm just fighting to the end there. It's just me and him in the middle,” Karras said.
Tinsley’s score came with a cut on his chin after the chin strap dug in just below his lower lip, which explained why he was slow to get up.
The defensive front drew strong praise from Karras after four practices.
“Today felt like going against the 2016 New England defense. It was a lot of good players and a lot of players who've done a lot.
They're grown ups and they know how to play and they're professionals. And a little bit mean.
You better bring you're f--king shit going against Dexter Lawrence.”
There were other notable moments too. Former Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard spent much of practice in the middle of the defensive backfield talking with strength coach Joey Boese, then later had a long conversation with Bryan Cook, the Cincinnati native and new Bengals defensive back.
“At this level, there are rookies and young guys, there’s veterans and there’s OGs. He’s an OG. For him to give me some pointers, I definitely appreciate it.
“I kind of learned about his story from other people around here. When I first saw him today, it was as if I already knew him.
It was a really good vibe. What a great dude.”
Hudson kept stacking plays, adding a diving catch from Joe Flacco in 11-on-11 after his earlier one-handed grab indoors. Undrafted receiver Thomas also flashed, hauling in a deep ball from Josh Johnson between Jalen Kimble and PJ Jules.
Not every standout belonged to the offense, though. The day opened with the Bengals inside because of rain, and season-ticket holders and other VIP members who had hoped to watch practice - and maybe double up with the Chris Stapleton concert - were turned away. Once the team moved outside, the gates stayed closed to the public.
Everyone was accounted for except Shemar Stewart. Tee Higgins wore a jersey early but did not take part once the practice moved outside, apparently getting a vet day.
The Bengals will take their first off day of camp Sunday before returning Monday for their first practice in pads.
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Ja'Marr Chase noticed, too, and his praise carried some weight. Chase pointed to Thomass ability in jump-ball situations and even drew a comparison to Tee Higgins, which is the sort of endorsement that can get attention quickly around camp. For a Bengals offense built around proven pass catchers, Thomas is still very much in the proving stage, but he has at least given fans a reason to keep watching every rep. [Read more 🡒]
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Taylor said the record from last season is motivation, not baggage, and he has described the upcoming chase as something that brings excitement rather than pressure. Turner, meanwhile, made it clear he is tired of the team being defined by what happened a year ago and wants the focus on what comes next, which is exactly the kind of mindset Cincinnati needs as camp ramps up and expectations follow it every day. [Read more 🡒]