Bengals Training Camp Day 7: Trenton Irwin needs just one hand as receivers shine
It's tough to stand out at wide receiver on a team with Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd as your teammates. And yet, Cincinnati Bengals child actor turned back-shoulder playmaker Trenton Irwin makes a habit out of exceeding expectations. A one-handed touchdown grab playing with the 1s in place of Higgins (who played some […]
It's tough to stand out at wide receiver on a team with Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd as your teammates. And yet, Cincinnati Bengals child actor turned back-shoulder playmaker Trenton Irwin makes a habit out of exceeding expectations.
A one-handed touchdown grab playing with the 1s in place of Higgins (who played some but not all reps) on the seventh practice of training camp is just the latest example of Irwin standing out.
Since joining the Bengals not long before Joe Burrow walked through the door, Irwin has gone from practice squad hopeful, to the clear-cut fourth wide receiver behind the best trio in the NFL. Rep after rep has strengthened his instincts to be able to just do, not think, in crucial moments, whether they occur in August, or January.
"There wasn't a lot of thought," Irwin said of his five-finger snag. "I looked back and I was like 'Okay I think I'm getting one [hand] on this one.' We're coming down, have to save room on out of bounds line but it was a great ball, great play."
The Bengals love what Irwin brings in pinches. They love even more what Chase does in bunches. Thursday was yet another day in the office for Uno, who battled cornerback Sidney Jones for most of the afternoon.
Advantage Chase on that one.
Jones took the reps rookie DJ Turner had been getting earlier in the week with the starters as Chidobe Awuzie works back to full participation. Jones eventually got Chase back with an impressive play on the ball of his own, right where Irwin would eventually make his highlight grab.
Turner taking second-team reps is just part of the process right now. He'll be a part of that unit once Awuzie is fully integrated in the coming days (or weeks, potentially). But the Bengals didn't make it easy on any cornerback Thursday.
Charlie Jones and Andrei Iosivas each hauled in touchdowns towards the end of practice. Jones landed on his shoulder and got carted off the field, but told reporters afterwards he was okay.
How ironic that the first day of tackling of any kind would be highlighted by what happened in the air.
"Well, last two years we lost in that drill. I know that for certain," Irwin said of the red zone work. "And yesterday we got beat by the defense, they came out to play and we came out a little flat. So to come out today, we really needed to get things going, clicking, making some plays, and we made it happen."
But the wideouts didn't hog the fun. With Trevor Siemian taking first-team reps under center, tight end Irv Smith Jr. was the recipient of five targets throughout 11-on-11 work.
Getting closer to the trenches, Jonah Williams continued taking first-team reps at right tackle as he is nearing 100% participation. Jackson Carman worked with the 2s and lost to defensive end Cam Sample for a couple of would-be sacks. Sample was working at left defensive end while first-round pick Myles Murphy was on the right side.
In the backfield, rookie running back Chase Brown got plenty of carries with the second team as Trayveon Williams is day-to-day with a mild ankle sprain. Chris Evans also got ample reps with the starters during the team's two-minute drill to end the day.
Bengals: OL vs. DL matchups to watch in padded practices
It’s time for collisions in the trenches.
Featured image via X @Trags
