Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp Report Day 13: Amarius Mims’ Injury Shuffles O-Line

CINCINNATI – Dancing bears and musical chairs were the theme of the day as the Cincinnati Bengals returned to the practice field for the first time since Saturday’s 17-14 preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It also was the team’s first practice since finding out first-round pick Amarius Mims will miss several weeks with a pectoral injury.

Bengals offensive line coach Frank Pollack said this is the time in camp when they start shuffling guys into different positions, but that Mims’ injury accelerated the different combinations he used on Day 13 of training camp.

Bengals Veteran Tackle Trent Brown Gets 1st Reps in Team Periods

Trent Brown, whom Pollack compared to a dancing bear and who already was scheduled to get his first reps of training camp in a team period, slotted in for Mims with the first team.

But the second and third teams were a hodgepodge of combinations.

“We let them kind of groove a position for the first couple of weeks and get in the first preseason game, and now way more moving around with positions,” Pollack said. “We’re gonna play these next two weeks and practice against the opponent. It’s gonna be great work for us. It’s going to be outstanding work for us.

“I’m looking forward to seeing these guys compete at a couple different positions to show their flexibility,” he continued. “They’ve got to have it.”

The Bengals went heavy on team periods today, giving plenty of reps to the backups who will play the bulk of the snaps Saturday against Chicago.

Injury Report

While the Mims injury was the biggest issue, defensive tackle B.J. Hill and wide receiver Trenton Irwin also did not practice.

Taylor said during his pre-practice news conference there were some other issues “floating around” that could prevent regulars from participating in Thursday’s joint practice.

Defensive end Sam Hubbard (knee) is the only player Taylor would confirm as a non-participant for the joint practice.

Rookie safety Daijahn Anthony was back at practice after leaving Saturday’s game with a fractured nose.

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Dax Hill took a shot to the face in practice and appeared to be in some pain after removing his helmet. But he did not miss a snap.

And running back Zack Moss was back to work after an illness kept him away from the team Saturday night.

Defensive tackle Devonnsha Maxwell passed his physical and was cleared to practice, while defensive tackle Jay Tufele also practiced after missing more than a week.

Quarterback Report

After a sterling preseason debut Saturday night when he threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins to cap a 12-play opening drive, Joe Burrow threw two interceptions today. But one essentially was a Hail Mary.

The Bengals were trying to get into field goal range from their own 30 with 13 seconds to go when Burrow heaved a deep ball down the middle of the field that safety Geno Stone easily ran under and snared for his first pick of camp.

Burrow’s other interception came on the previous series, which was a move-the-ball drill. Burrow overthrew Moss on a screen, and linebacker Germaine Pratt made a diving pick.

It was the second play of the drive, so the first-team offense got shorted almost an entire series.

Burrow finished the day 7-of-13 passing with two interceptions during four 11-on-11 periods.

Of note, Burrow targeted Andrei Iosivas on his first pass attempt in each of the first four 11-on-11 periods, and he also went Iosivas’ way with his first pass in 7-on-7s.

Backup Jake Browning, who struggled Saturday night, was sharp, completing 13 of his first 15 passes and driving the second team for one, possibly two, touchdowns.

After going 6-for-6 on the first move-the-ball drive and capping things with a touchdown pass to Kwamie Lassiter, Browning drove the offense into the red zone on his last possession of practice.

A pass to tight end Tanner Hudson in the end zone appeared to be good for a touchdown despite great coverage from safety Jordan Battle, but director of player personnel Duke Tobin and strength and conditioning coach Joey Boese were standing closest to play and signaled an incompletion.

Browning’s final pass was a fade for Hudson in the corner of the end zone, but cornerback Allan George made a great play on the ball to break it up and nearly made a diving interception of his own deflection.

Stock Rising

Undrafted rookie linebacker Maema Njongmeta played well Saturday, earning Pro Football Focus’ top Bengals grade of the night, and he was rewarded today by getting most of his snaps with the second team after running with the threes for the first three weeks of camp.

Kendric Pryor continues to show up in big situations, hauling in touchdown passes from both Burrow and Browning. He’s got a tough climb to make the 53-man roster, but he’s done more than enough to warrant consideration.

Stock Falling

After committing four penalties Saturday night, Jackson Carman found himself watching most of the team periods today while playing with the third team as 2023 undrafted free agent Jaxson Kirkland, who has mostly repped at guard since arriving, took over for Carman as the second team left tackle.

Joe Bachie has had a solid camp and is close to a lock to make the 53-man roster, but Njongmeta’s rise to the second team left Bachie on the sideline for several reps today.