Bengals OT Trent Brown Heaps Praise on Rookie Amarius Mims

CINCINNATI – Newly signed offensive tackle Trent Brown was at Paycor Stadium for the Cincinnati Bengals‘ voluntary offseason program. And then he wasn’t.

After the first practice of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, Brown talked about what kept him away from the team the last five weeks.

Trent Brown Has High Praise for Bengals Rookie Amarius Mims

“The only reason I wasn’t here is I had a few family emergencies where I had to stay back home,” Brown said. “But it was finally clear enough for me to come out and be back with the team.”

Brown didn’t want to discuss details of the personal matter, but he did say the situation “is trending upward.”

The Bengals signed the 6-foot-8, 380-pound Brown to a one-year, $4.4 million contract in March with the intention of the nine-year veteran being their starting right tackle this season after Jonah Williams signed with the Arizona Cardinals.

Trent Brown and Ja’Marr Chase officially here for minicamp.

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) June 11, 2024

Brown was in the building for Phase 1 of the offseason program, but he said the family issue arose the first weekend in May — two days before the first on-field practice — and the team understood his plight and worked to help keep him connected.

“I was here already when the offseason started, but when that happened on Mother’s Day, I had to stay back home and see about my family,” Brown said. “Everybody was good about it. Everybody was reaching out, making sure I was all right and making sure my family was all right. I was happy about that.”

“Being here in the building is definitely more valuable, especially as a new guy, just learning the ins and outs and intricacies of the offense,” Brown continued. “I was Zoomed in for meetings, so I was still here. I just wasn’t able to do the physical part.”

Four weeks after the Bengals signed Brown, they drafted offensive tackle Amarius Mims in the first round.

Mims has been present for every practice and has attached himself to Orlando Brown Jr.’s hip in an attempt to learn all he can. Mims said he plans to lean on Brown for advice, as well.

“I always try to be a wealth of knowledge to all my young guys wherever I’ve been,” Brown said. “I’ve always tried to help out where I can.”

KEEP READING: Amarius Mims Playing Follow the Leader As He Learns Playbook

But Brown admitted Mims doesn’t need that much help, offering high praise for what he’s seen from the 6-foot-8, 340-pound rookie.

“Just like any rookie who hasn’t played football at this level yet, it’s just some little things, really minor things, he needs to work on,” Brown said. “I feel like he will be an all-time starting tackle in this league.”