Bengals’ second day of pads gets Cincinnati star athlete visitor, and another hometown hero caps practice with highlight reel play
The second padded practice of Cincinnati Bengals training camp featured specialized one-on-ones for the whole team, the revamped defensive line going back and forth with Joe Burrow, a notable starter watching from the sidelines in full uniform, and a rookie continuing to impress.
The second padded practice of Cincinnati Bengals training camp featured specialized one-on-ones for the whole team, the revamped defensive line going back and forth with Joe Burrow, a notable starter watching from the sidelines in full uniform, and a rookie continuing to impress.
All of it culminated in a local product making a great play in front of another Cincinnati icon.
I was in the bleachers Tuesday taking in my annual training camp practice. Here are my notes from the morning.
Dax Hill watches in uniform
While he was going through individual drills with fellow starters, DJ Turner II and Jalen Davis, Dax Hill did not partake in team drills or one on ones throughout the day. It was DJ Ivy who took his place across the formation from Turner and the fourth year back up went up against Tee Higgins throughout the morning.
Following practice, Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden told reporters Hill’s health was closely monitored today.
“He is fine,” Golden said to reporters.
In Hill’s stead was fourth-year corner DJ Ivey, who is right now ahead of rookie Tacario Davis as the first CB off the bench. Davis has made some nice plays on the ball and will surely get a ton of exposure during the preseason.
Colbie Young continues showing up
Everyone is hopping on the Colbie Young hype train. I must say it’s moving out a pretty fast pace.
Not that I think he’s going to be starting Week 1 or anything, but when the ball is thrown his way, he’s hauling it in.
What I care about with Cincinnati’s second of two fourth-round picks from this year’s NFL Draft is how he wins in the small game. Can he accelerate out of his brakes to gain quick separation? Does it get enough depth on his routes? Can he win when Burrow needs to get the ball out quickly?
I watched him do all those things against Josh Newton in a 1-on-1 rep early in practice. Borrow threw him an accurate sideline ball, and he caught it cleanly with a toe tap.
So far, so promising for the 24-year old wide receiver, who already had no one in his way to make the 53-man roster. We watched Mitchell Tinsley climb his way to WR4 status last year. Will that be the case for Young? It wouldn’t surprise me.
Bryan Cook ends practice on a high note
There was quite a bit of seven on seven in the midsection of the practice. Cincinnati native and starting safety Brian Cook had an impressive past break up during the red portion of the drills.
What he did later in the morning was even more impressive.
The last series of 11-on-11 for the starters ended with Cook intercepting Burrow and taking it back to the house. It was an on and off day for burrow, but it certainly ended on a low note for the offense.
For the defense? Just look at Cook’s teammates celebrating his play with him:
Cook has been leading by example since he arrived in the spring. He’s also talking the talk.
“At the end of the day, we’re a stingy defense,” Cook told media members after practice. “We’re gonna take the ball back as many times as we can. For the most part, it’s more just being aggressive, attention to detail, flying around, playing as one, and also me being my brother’s keeper. I know we we all tired, but can try to make a play, any given moment, it could happen. I could be tired and have a great break at the post, and then Dexter Lawrence gets a sack. So things like that, man, it boosts the whole morality of a defense and just adds momentum.”
Game recognizes game
The Bengals got a special visitor from down the street as Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart attended practice along with some of his teammates.
Stewart, the favorite the win NL Rookie of the Year, revealed himself to be a big fan of Bengals All-Pro wideout Ja’Marr Chase.
“I love his attitude, I love his aura, and I love how he approaches the game,” Stewart told Bengals Radio Network’s Dan Hoard. “I love watching football so this is like a dream come true.”
The two got to meet after practice.
Cincinnati is off Wednesday and will be back practicing Thursday.
