Bengals Wide Receiver Takes a Rare Shot in Minicamp Practice: ‘I Was Cool With It’

CINCINNATI – The second day of Cincinnati Bengals minicamp began with a bang.

Or at least the 7-on-7 portion of it did.

On the opening play of the period, quarterback Joe Burrow threw a checkdown to wide receiver Charlie Jones, who was taken to the ground by linebacker Germaine Pratt.

Defense Gets Best of Joe Burrow in Bengals’ Second Minicamp Practice

It wasn’t a deliberate tackle, which obviously would violate NFL rules and draw the ire of the coaching staff. Pratt was trying to break on the ball and deflect the pass, and ended up going through Jones.

“It is what it is,” Jones said with a smile after practice. “He wasn’t trying to be anything. He was just playing fast, and I ended up on the ground.”

“He said ‘my bad’ and I was cool with it. No worries at all,” Jones added. “You’ve got to expect coming in here, it’s going to be a little physical. I got knocked down, got right back up, and went to the huddle. I didn’t think twice about it.”

The play marked the first of three consecutive completions by Burrow, as he again focused on shorter routes. He did appear to be throwing with more velocity than he showed Tuesday, but still not his usual zip.

Day 2. Let’s get it.

Minicamp | @KetteringHealth pic.twitter.com/kogU4kDr6E

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) June 12, 2024

And that was apparent when five of his next passes were broken up, although one of them would have drawn a flag for pass interference.

Cam Taylor-Britt ended Burrow’s 3-for-3 start by deflecting a pass intended for undrafted rookie free agent Tre Mosley during the first set of reps.

And the second set turned into an uncharacteristic struggle for a 7-on-7 drill.

Dax Hill got his hands on a pass for an incompletion to Andrei Iosivas. Pratt punched away a pass intended for Mike Gesicki. DJ Turner deflected an intermediate crosser headed for Shedrick Jackson. And Hill broke up another one, although he clearly hit Jackson well before the ball arrived.

An offensive player off to the side watching threw a towel to represent a flag, and special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons, serving as a make-shift referee, called a penalty.

MORE: Joe Burrow Opens Up About His Mentality, Mortality Amid Rehab

Backup Jake Browning went 4-for-5 with an interception as a Turner deflection on a pass intended for Gesicki ricocheted high in the air, and linebacker Shaka Heyward leaped to grab it.

Browning hooked up with Kwamie Lassiter for the play of the day, a one-handed grab against tight coverage from cornerback Jalen Davis.

Earlier in OTAs, Lassiter made a similar catch, but said it didn’t count because it was a route on air. Wednesday’s reception definitely counted.

.@kwamie_lassiter with the hands 🤯

Minicamp | @KetteringHealth pic.twitter.com/QaQa734PsY

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) June 12, 2024

Attendance

Everyone on the current roster was present except for tight end Drew Sample, who missed his second consecutive practice with an excused absence.

Running back Chase Brown did not practice, nor did wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, except for a few snaps in the walk-through that preceded team stretch. After that, Chase changed out of his cleats and was a spectator.

MORE: Zack Moss Talks Replacing Joe Mixon, Splitting Work With Chase Brown

He declined to talk again after practice, but left the door open to talk to the media Thursday after minicamp wraps up.

“Try me again tomorrow,” he said. “I’m not saying I definitely will, but check back tomorrow.”

Cornerback D.J. Ivey, safety Tycen Anderson, and rookie tight ends Erick All and Tanner McLachlan continued to do rehab work off to the side.

On Tap

The final practice is slated for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, after which players will be sprinting out of the stadium and heading to the airport to catch flights. They will have the next six weeks off before reporting for training camp July 23.

Head coach Zac Taylor is scheduled to hold a news conference at 11:45 a.m. to wrap up the offseason.