Two promising rookies and an aspiring defensive starter make up key Bengals to watch for during preseason game vs. Eagles
Three Bengals worth watching against the Eagles.
For the first time in seven full months, the Cincinnati Bengals play a football game. Cincinnati’s preseason begins with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
This game won’t look entirely like a playoff hopeful taking on the defending Super Bowl champions for four quarters as certain starters won’t play the entire night or at all, rather the proving grounds for players looking to further solidify roles on the roster and grow into larger roles down the road.
These three Bengals specifically are worth focusing on in Philadelphia.
RB Tahj Brooks
The preseason is the perfect stage for a sixth-round running back. Draft status leads to increased playing time in August, the playbooks are limited and run-centric as the games enter the second half, and the blocking is suspect, putting more of an emphasis on the running back making yards for himself.
Enter Brooks, the third-string back who will be carrying the rock plenty of times in Philly behind subpar athletes blocking for him. Will he look like a product of his limited surroundings, or a guy who can take Samaje Perine‘s role as RB2 sooner rather than later? This will be a fun debut to watch.
LG Dylan Fairchild
Brooks isn’t being counted on to start, but Fairchild is. Cincinnati’s third-round pick from this year’s NFL Draft will be playing the first drive or two against an Eagles defensive line sporting talent throughout its depth chart. Fairchild is thinking big picture for what he wants out of his debut.
“Feel for the game,” Fairchild said to reporters this week. “I want us to operate at a high level. I mean, as an offense. It’s more of a group thing for me. Like I want us to operate at a high level. That’s really what I want. It’s not even really about me personally. I want to operate with those guys and I want us as a unit and as a team to operate at a high level.”
The offensive line is as good as its weakest link. Fairchild has impressed in training camp, but in-game speed is a whole other story. Tonight’s a big test for him.
CB DJ Turner II
The starting defense will be without both Dax Hill and Cam Taylor-Britt, giving Turner a needed moment to make his case as the third starting cornerback. He’s had his ups and downs at camp while second-year player Josh “Fig” Newton continues growing on the field and in the locker room.
Newton ending up as CB4 to start the year falls in line with expectations for a fifth-round pick. Turner is a former second-rounder entering his third year. Pressure to solidify himself as a starter is much greater for him, and it starts with capitalizing with minimal competition next to him.
Turner battling for a role may also have him out on the field longer than other starters for tonight’s game. The film should be extensive and captivating to watch tomorrow.
Cincinnati Bengals News
Bengals’ first depth chart highlights winners from two weeks of training camp practices including Shemar Stewart
Cincinnati’s roster is trending in the right direction.
