Senior Author
A take a look at the Bengals’ roster after Monday evening’s 31-17 preseason highway win over the Commanders.
QUARTERBACKS (4)<\/strong>
Joe Burrow (6), Desmond Ridder (4), Jake Browning (3), Payton Thorne (R)<\/strong>
Arduous to consider head coach Zac Taylor might have scripted Burrow’s preseason any higher. This is a man who needed to simulate in August the way it feels even getting on and off the airplane because the starter. You have to keep in mind, in his 5 earlier seasons, he had a complete of 16 preseason snaps
This 12 months, Taylor bought Burrow 44 preseason performs after Monday’s career-high recreation of 28, quenching Burrow’s need for replicating the texture of a recreation earlier than the opener.
He is generated 4 touchdowns on 5 drives whereas finishing 75% of his passes and throwing three touchdowns to 3 completely different receivers. He needed to really feel the warmth within the pocket? OK, he took a 17-yard sack whereas additionally drawing a horse-collar penalty, performs that helped get him again within the delicate swing of deciding when and when to not kill a play.
And there was drawing the vet Frankie Luvu offsides on fourth down, which you’ll’t get off an iPad.
As Burrow mentioned himself exiting stage proper whereas Monday started turning into Tuesday, “That is the time to make these errors and be taught from them, and the sport does not rely in direction of the document.”
Browning was triple-digit-passer-rating good Monday. Perhaps it is as a result of there have been photos of the nice Washington Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen perched all around the facility, however Browning has that old style bulldog type of gutty gunslinger worthy of Jurgensen’s single-bar helmet.
After all, Burrow has the identical type, to not point out Jurgensen’s No. 9. The only-bar helmet guys had a productive evening.
WIDE RECEIVERS (12)<\/strong>
**Tee Higgins**<\/a> (6),<\/strong> **Ja\u2019Marr Chase**<\/a> (5),<\/strong> **Andrei Iosivas**<\/a> (3),<\/strong> **Charlie Jones**<\/a> (3),<\/strong> **Jermaine Burton**<\/a> (2),<\/strong> **Kendric Pryor**<\/a> (2),<\/strong> **Mitchell Tinsley**<\/a> (2),<\/strong> **Isaiah Williams**<\/a> (2),<\/strong> **Cole Burgess**<\/a> (1),<\/strong> **Jamoi Mayes**<\/a> (R),<\/strong> **Jordan Moore**<\/a> (R),<\/strong> **Rashod Owens**<\/a> (R)<\/strong>
One advantage of Burrow eager to work with the second group for the primary time in any of his preseasons is that now we all know the pecking order.
Tinsley has lined up with Iosivas, Jones, and Burrow in some practices. When he did it on the third drive Monday evening, that was the inform that he is the main candidate to be the sixth receiver. Then, when Tinsley caught two contested touchdowns from Browning, the inform went to informed.
Jones, who caught a landing from Burrow Monday evening, is the first kick and punt returner. That is the way in which he was used Monday, which mirrored Taylor’s ideas final week:
“There’s loads of alternative there to do no matter he can to impression the group. He has kick returns, punt returns for touchdowns right here which have helped us win video games. That is all on the desk for Charlie.”
Jones’ decisive 30-yarder on the opening kickoff confirmed why. Burton did not play, however seemed to be shut earlier than the journey to Washington. It seems he’ll be paired with Jones on the kick returns and assist him on punts.
RUNNING BACKS (6)<\/strong>
**Samaje Perine**<\/a> (9),<\/strong> **Gary Brightwell**<\/a> (4),<\/strong> **Chase Brown**<\/a> (3),<\/strong> **Kendall Milton**<\/a> (1),<\/strong> **Tahj Brooks**<\/a> (R),<\/strong> **Quali Conley**<\/a> (R)<\/strong>
Brown is primed for an enormous 12 months. Try the primary drive. Earlier than he transformed a fourth-and-one-blood-and-guts landing run, he helped set it up with a terrific blitz pickup of vet linebacker Frankie Luvu. Brown bought low and fended off Luvu simply as Burrow flung the deep ball to Chase that picked up 25 yards on a cross interference name.
Brooks lining up with Burrow exhibits what they consider him and his 14 extra touches Monday confirmed they consider they’ve secured a sixth-round steal.
TIGHT ENDS (7)<\/strong>
**Mike Gesicki**<\/a> (8), Noah Fant (7),<\/strong> **Drew Sample**<\/a> (7),<\/strong> **Tanner Hudson**<\/a> (6),<\/strong> **Erick All Jr.**<\/a> (2),<\/strong> **Cam Grandy**<\/a> (2),<\/strong> **Tanner McLachlan**<\/a> (2)<\/strong>
Fant made his Bengals debut and did not get a goal, however he appeared to line up seamlessly in a ton of spots in quite a lot of one- and double-tight finish appears throughout 16 snaps. In response to Professional Soccer Focus, he executed six run blocks and a cross block (did not enable a stress). Hudson, in a roster battle royale, had probably the most performs of the group with 28, and typically that is good or dangerous for roster possibilities. He additionally had three extra catches, which all the time appears to be a given.
Grandy is graded extremely once more in run blocking by way of PFF (third finest on the group), whereas Gesicki will get prepared for the opener and All figures to go on a reserve checklist.
OFFENSIVE LINE (16)<\/strong>
C<\/strong> **Ted Karras**<\/a> (10), G<\/strong> **Lucas Patrick**<\/a> (9), T<\/strong> **Orlando Brown Jr.**<\/a> (8), G-T<\/strong> **Cody Ford**<\/a> (7), G<\/strong> **Cordell Volson**<\/a> (4), T<\/strong> **Devin Cochran**<\/a> (3), G<\/strong> **Jaxson Kirkland**<\/a> (2), C<\/strong> **Matt Lee**<\/a> (2), T<\/strong> **Amarius Mims**<\/a> (2), C Andrew Raym (2); T<\/strong> **Andrew Stueber**<\/a> (2), T<\/strong> **Andrew Coker**<\/a> (1), T<\/strong> **Caleb Etienne**<\/a> (R), G<\/strong> **Dylan Fairchild**<\/a> (R), C<\/strong> **Seth McLaughlin**<\/a> (R), G-T<\/strong> **Jalen Rivers**<\/a> (R).<\/strong>
Their prime 4 cross blockers and total blockers of the evening by way of PFF have been from the beginning line. Mims was the road’s top-rated offensive participant. Fairchild confirmed up solidly once more and was subsequent.
Patrick had excessive grades within the run. When he went down midway by the final drive, there emerged one other inform when the rookie sort out Rivers changed him at proper guard.
Ever since they drafted Rivers, they’ve believed he might play each sort out and guard spots with the one query if he might maintain up inside. Monday appeared to substantiate he is on his approach. He stored enjoying after his stint with the primary group and graded out as their highest graded run blocker. It appears like he joins Ford within the valued function of swing sort out.
With Volson and Ford out Monday, a number of reviews had the Bengals bringing in estimable vet guard Dalton Risner for a go to Tuesday. Taylor mentioned Ford might have performed if it had been the common season. He wasn’t as definitive on Volson.
Plus, they’re trying to see how Patrick got here out of Monday. They appear to love the moxie and expertise he has dropped at the group, however they’re additionally all the time searching for strong items because the nicks of August pile up.
With Ford and Rivers trying to be the primary two off the bench, that leaves two spots left. McLaughlin, making his debut Monday after Achilles surgical procedure, took his first 5 snaps. Lee, Karras’ backup final 12 months, has been banged up and has but to play in a recreation.
DEFENSIVE LINE (16)<\/strong>
DE<\/strong> **Trey Hendrickson**<\/a> (9), DT Taven Bryan (8); DT<\/strong> **B.J. Hill**<\/a> (8), DE<\/strong> **Joseph Ossai**<\/a> (5), DE-DT<\/strong> **Cam Sample**<\/a> (5), DT<\/strong> **T.J. Slaton Jr.**<\/a> (5), DT McTelvin Agim (3); DE<\/strong> **Myles Murphy**<\/a> (3), DE<\/strong> **Isaiah Thomas**<\/a> (3), DT<\/strong> **Kris Jenkins Jr.**<\/a> (2), DE<\/strong> **Cedric Johnson**<\/a> (2), DE<\/strong> **Raymond Johnson III**<\/a> (2), DT<\/strong> **McKinnley Jackson**<\/a> (2), DT<\/strong> **Howard Cross III**<\/a> (R), DT<\/strong> **Eric Gregory**<\/a> (R), DE<\/strong> **Shemar Stewart**<\/a> (R)<\/strong>
The Commanders gouged the primary protection for 106 yards on the bottom on the primary two sequence, which implies that first group performed solely seven snaps.
The thriller is why that first group that appears so good and feisty in coaching camp in opposition to one of many league’s finest offenses does not carry it into the sport. Robust to guage a cross rusher like Stewart on seven snaps when six have been runs.
The backups had one other good evening, similar to Jackson, who performed 23 snaps and was a part of that group that allowed a area objective and barely 150 yards complete within the final three quarters.
In the meantime, a big-league scrum is rising for what appears to be the final sort out spot. Gregory, the large physique rookie free agent, got here out of it as PFF’s highest-graded Bengals D-lineman on a complete of 25 performs. Cross, the rookie free agent from Notre Dame, led the tackles with 32 snaps. Each had two pressures, Cross had two tackles, and Gregory had a sort out for a loss.
LINEBACKERS (8)<\/strong>
**Oren Burks**<\/a> (8),<\/strong> **Logan Wilson**<\/a> (6),<\/strong> **Joe Giles-Harris**<\/a> (2),<\/strong> **Shaka Heyward**<\/a> (2),<\/strong> **Maema Njongmeta**<\/a> (2),<\/strong> **Craig Young**<\/a> (1),<\/strong> **Barrett Carter**<\/a> (R),<\/strong> **Demetrius Knight Jr.**<\/a> (R)<\/strong>
The again seven seems to be experiencing the identical pattern because the entrance line. The backups are exhibiting up greater than the starters within the video games. Carter was their participant of the sport with a choose and a team-high seven tackles, Njongmeta was PFF’s highest-rated Bengals defensive participant of the evening, and Heyward was everywhere with a sort out for loss, a success on the quarterback, and a sort out on particular groups.
Plus, Taylor named Giles-Harris a recreation captain Monday for his camp physique of labor. Who will get named for the spot behind the 2 starters, Wilson and Knight, in addition to Carter and Burks, is anyone’s guess. All Njongmeta does is play nicely in video games, Heyward has emerged as a particular groups standout, and Giles-Harris has the coaches’ confidence with instincts honed by 4 groups throughout six seasons within the league.
SECONDARY (17)<\/strong>
S<\/strong> **Geno Stone**<\/a> (6), CB<\/strong> **Jalen Davis**<\/a> (5), CB<\/strong> **Marco Wilson**<\/a> (5), S<\/strong> **Tycen Anderson**<\/a> (4), CB<\/strong> **Dax Hill**<\/a> (4), CB<\/strong> **Cam Taylor-Britt**<\/a> (4), S<\/strong> **Jordan Battle**<\/a> (3), CB<\/strong> **DJ Ivey**<\/a> (3), CB<\/strong> **DJ Turner II**<\/a> (3), CB<\/strong> **Nate Brooks**<\/a> (2), CB<\/strong> **Josh Newton**<\/a> (2), S<\/strong> **Daijahn Anthony**<\/a> (2), CB<\/strong> **Lance Robinson**<\/a> (2), S<\/strong> **Jaylen Key**<\/a> (1), S<\/strong> **P.J. Jules**<\/a> (1), CB<\/strong> **Bryan Lux**<\/a> (R), S<\/strong> **Shaquan Loyal**<\/a> (R).<\/strong>
With Stone out with an harm, Anderson staked his declare to get into the protection combine, and Anthony confirmed up as nicely for a backup group that was downright stingy in opposition to the cross all evening. They’re constantly two of the quickest guys in camp and performed greater than 60% of the snaps Monday. That left solely a dozen for Jules.
The Commanders’ backups threw for an unpleasant 85 yards and Anderson set the tone for the final three quarters when he used that elite velocity to vary from centerfield to make a sideline interception. He additionally bought his hand on one other cross, and had 4 tackles. New defensive coordinator Al Golden has been insisting on good tackling, so he will not be comfortable that first group had 4 misses on seven performs.
The cornerbacks have been lacking Turner Monday evening, however the seven snaps have been a glimpse at their versatility. Hill, in his first recreation again from ACL surgical procedure, lined up exterior on the primary snap reverse Taylor-Britt after enjoying a lot of camp within the slot. Once they did go nickel, each he and Newton have been within the slot. Lux’s bid for a observe squad spot was energized with a defense-leading 44 snaps, 20 in protection, the place PFF had him rated third on the group.
SPECIALISTS (4)<\/strong>
LS<\/strong> **Cal Adomitis**<\/a> (4), Okay<\/strong> **Evan McPherson**<\/a> (5), P<\/strong> **Ryan Rehkow**<\/a> (2), LS<\/strong> **William Wagner**<\/a> (R).<\/strong>
Particular groups coordinator Darrin Simmons blended it up and alternated the lengthy snaps, which meant the incumbent Adomitis snapped for McPherson’s 54-yard area objective late within the recreation. Rehkow put two extra contained in the 20 with Adomitis snapping on each.
Earlier this week, as large receiver Mitchell Tinsley continued to torch Bengals coaching camp, quarterback Jake Browning talked concerning the issues that made him such an inviting goal at a mere 6-1, 205 kilos with no NFL catches throughout his two seasons with the Commanders.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor did not spherical up the same old suspects when he put quarterback Joe Burrow again into Monday evening’s preseason recreation right here at Northwest Stadium for his third and closing drive.
The Bengals gained their Week 2 2025 preseason recreation 31-17 in Washington Monday.
Learn every thing Bengals HC Zac Taylor and QB Joe Burrow mentioned after their second preseason recreation in opposition to the Commanders.
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