Cincinnati Bengals Observations From Loss to Indianapolis Colts: Second-Team D Stout, Punter Battle Crystalizes

CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Bengals capped a winless preseason Thursday with a 27-14 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in front of a crowd of 63,113 at Paycor Stadium.

The Cincinnati offense did next to nothing most of the night, logging just 99 yards on 32 plays through the first eight drives.

But late in the fourth quarter, the connection from Logan Woodside to rookie third-round receiver Jermaine Burton rekindled for a 21-yard touchdown.

Woodside and Burton hooked up for the team’s only other touchdown of the preseason, a 37-yarder in the 17-14 loss to Tampa Bay on Aug. 10.

Key Bengals Player Returns to Action From Injury

The Bengals’ only points through the first three quarters came on safety Jordan Battle’s 14-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the first quarter.

The loss ran the team’s winless streak in the preseason to six games. The Bengals were 0-2-1 last year and 0-3 this year.

Here are some instant observations from the game:

Charlie Jones Returns

Charlie Jones made a triumphant return to action when he took the opening kickoff back 48 yards.

Jones injured his knee Aug. 9 and was carted off. He dressed for warmups Saturday at Chicago, but he spent the game in street clothes on the sideline.

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The 2023 fourth-round pick participated in team drills in practice Monday and during Tuesday’s joint session against the Colts.

Jones led the team in punt returns (23) and punt return average (10.8) last year, but he did not return any kickoffs.

When camp began, it was expected that Jones would be involved with kickoff returns this year under the new rule, and Thursday night confirmed that.

Jones also returned two punts for 12 yards with a long of 9 yards. He also had one catch for 3 yards.

Second-Team D Flips Script

Five days after holding No. 1 pick Caleb Williams and the rest of the Chicago Bears’ starters to three consecutive three-and-outs to start the game, the Bengals’ second-team defense was not nearly as stout early on against Anthony Richardson and the Colts’ starters.

The Colts went 80 yards in 12 plays on the opening drive, with Richardson hitting rookie receiver Adonai Mitchell for a 9-yard touchdown for a quick 7-0 lead.

But whereas the Bears finally got rolling, the Bengals locked down the Colts after the first drive, holding Richardson and Co. to 24 yards on 13 plays after that.

In 10 drives against No. 1 offenses, the Cincinnati backup defense gave up 227 yards on 47 plays and 17 points.

The Bengals’ backups came up with points of their own when Battle returned an errant Richardson pass 14 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 3:01 left in the opening quarter.

.@JordanMBattle with the pick-six 😏

📺: #CINvsIND on Prime Video pic.twitter.com/ivXKQDFWzp

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 23, 2024

Stock Rising

Rookie edge rusher Cedric Johnson proved he belonged on the 53-man roster before Thursday night, but he elevated to lock status with his performance against the Colts and the news that 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy will miss four to six weeks with an MCL sprain.

Johnson, a sixth-round pick out of Mississippi, recorded his second sack of the preseason only to see it wiped out on an illegal contact penalty by fellow rookie and Ole Miss Rebel Daijahn Anthony.

Late in the second quarter, Johnson put pressure on Indianapolis quarterback Sam Ehlinger on a fourth-down incompletion at the Cincinnati 3-yard line, preserving a 7-7 tie heading into the break.

Undrafted rookie Maema Njongmeta turned in his third consecutive impressive performance with nine tackles on defense and another one on special teams. He came into the game ranked third in the league in preseason tackles.

And a name to watch is Carlos Davis, a fifth-year player who signed with the Bengals two weeks ago. With rookie third-round pick McKinnley Jackson working through a knee injury that has the Bengals thin on nose tackles, Davis could be a surprise entry on the 53-man roster.

Davis stated his case against the Colts with a tackle for loss and two quarterback hits.

Rehkow Dress Rehearsal

With incumbent punter Brad Robbins avoiding serious injury to his hip flexor, undrafted rookie Ryan Rehkow needed a strong, consistent performance to win the punting job.

Rehkow’s leg strength has never been in question, but hang time and touch have been issues, and that showed on his first attempt when he boomed a 57-yarder into the end zone for a touchback and 37-yard net.

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After the Cincinnati offense’s second possession ended, the Bengals were in position to try a 62-yard field goal, but head coach Zac Taylor elected to send Rehkow out for another punt.

Taylor took his headset off and said something to Evan McPherson, who had come onto the field thinking he was going to get to try a long one. The conversation probably went something like this: “I know you can make that kick. I need to know if Rehkow can drop a punt inside the 10.”

Rehkow responded by punting the ball to the 9-yard line, and two plays later, Battle got his pick-six to tie the game.

The next ones were:

• 56 yards and fair caught.
• A 29-yard shank.
• A 42-yard low line drive.
• A 34-yard touch punt fair caught at the 6.

That kind of inconsistency isn’t going to win the job against Robbins.