Most Bengals Starters Not Expected To Play Today, but There Could Be Some Surprises

CHICAGO — Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed after Thursday’s joint practice that the starters will not play today against the Chicago Bears.

But at least one will.

Cornerbacks DJ Turner II and Dax Hill are neck and neck in the race to win the starting job opposite Cam Taylor-Britt, and one of them is going to end up being the Week 1 starter.

With the Bears expected to play their starters for a couple of series, they should get some quality reps against rookie No. 1 pick Caleb Williams and his talented trio of starting receivers in DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and rookie No. 10 pick Rome Odunze.

Bengals Wide Receiver Charlie Jones Could Play Today

The starters who will not play include:

• Joe Burrow
• Zack Moss
• Mike Gesicki
• Orlando Brown Jr.
• Cordell Volson
• Ted Karras
• Alex Cappa
• Trent Brown
• Drew Sample
• Tee Higgins
• Ja’Marr Chase
• Trenton Irwin
• Sam Hubbard
• Trey Hendrickson
• B.J. Hill
• Sheldon Rankins
• Germaine Pratt
• Logan Wilson
• Cam Taylor-Britt
• Vonn Bell
• Geno Stone

Though Taylor said the starters wouldn’t play, it was notable that linebacker Logan Wilson was going through the pregame stretch and workout with all of the backups who are expected to play today.

Also among the pregame workout group was wide receiver Charlie Jones, who is dressed and returned to practice at Thursday’s joint session. Jones also fielded punts during pregame warmups.

Preseason Game 2
Gloomy skies, but forecast has the rain holding off until after the game. pic.twitter.com/qPSWbuYEKj

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) August 17, 2024

Jones suffered a knee injury nine days ago. He’s from suburban Chicago and will have a lot of family and friends at today’s game. He was expecting an even bigger group at Thursday’s practice, but inclement weather and the threat of moving it indoors forced the Bears to close it to fans.

With running back and kick returner Chris Evans suffering a season-ending knee injury Thursday and Jones’ status unclear in the return game, rookie wide receiver Jermaine Burton could be in the mix to return kickoffs and/or punts today.

Burton was in the rotation on both at Thursday’s practice, although he did drop a punt he attempted to fair catch in the rain.

Expect to see a lot of Burton on offense today after he caught three passes for 82 yards from Logan Woodside in Saturday’s 17-14 loss to the Buccaneers.

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In addition to Evans, the Bengals lost backup tackle D’Ante Smith to what is believed will be a season-ending knee injury. A staff member drove Smith back to Cincinnati on Saturday, and he is expected to have an MRI today to confirm the initial diagnosis of a patellar tendon injury, which is the same thing that ended Evans’ season.

Backup quarterback Jake Browning (ribs), rookie first-round tackle Amarius Mims (pectoral), defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson (knee), and punter Brad Robbins (hip) are not expected to play due to injury.