Cincinnati

Bengals

Chase missed practice for the first time in training camp, previously remaining involved in drills though he had not been practicing. With many star receivers getting big money through extensions this offseason, Chase is the latest to have some sort of contract dispute while awaiting an extension. His teammate, Tee Higgins, returned on the franchise tag while team president Mike Brown had said a deal for Chase was unlikely before the start of training camp. The 24-year-old is entering his fourth season and has two years left on his rookie deal, the second being a fully guaranteed fifth-year option. Bengals head coach Zach Taylor said Chase is “day-to-day”. A deal may be more likely to get done next offseason, but Chase missing practice time is notable.

Rib injuries can be tricky so it’s no surprise that there’s not a definite timetable on Browning’s return. While the Bengals may choose to bring another quarterback on board, Logan Woodside and Rocky Lombardi are the two that remain behind Burrow. Browning filled in admirably when Burrow was lost for the 2023 season with a wrist injury.

Following this injury, Mims’ availability for Week 1’s matchup against the Patriots is very much in doubt. The Bengals selected Mims in the first round of this year’s draft in hopes of tightening up the right side of their line after losing Jonah Williams in free agency. Veteran tackle Trent Brown is expected to fill in for Mims during his absence, and would be the presumed starter at right tackle as long as Mims is out.

Second-year running back Chase Brown started and saw all six running back opportunities with the first team, bringing into question the status of the backfield depth chart in the process. We now know why Moss was unavailable for the team’s first preseason game, apparently sick enough to be held out of the contest. Fantasy managers will have to wait until the team’s next preseason contest to gain any further clarity regarding expected snap and opportunity splits in the Cincinnati backfield.

Brown also added one catch for zero yards. The second-year back drew a surprise start for the Bengals in this one, with Zack Moss (illness) an unexpected scratch. It wasn’t a great showing for Brown, who also saw two touches inside the red zone, but he was firmly entrenched as the primary back with the first team. He’ll see more of a split with Moss in the lineup.

Burrow and the starters — sans Ja’Marr Chase — played just one drive in this one. In his first NFL action since last year’s season-ending wrist injury, Burrow was sharp. He immediately connected with Tee Higgins on a nine-yard pass on the first play of the game and later linked up with second-year receiver Andrei Iosivas on a 23-yard gain. A pass interference on third and 17 kept Cincinnati’s drive alive, putting Burrow in position to cap the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Higgins. Burrow and the Bengals will take on the Bears next Saturday in their second preseason game.

The oft-injured Burrow, who missed most of the 2023 season’s second half with a wrist injury, has thrown a grand total of one preseason pass in his NFL career. “I’m excited for it,” said Burrow, who was fully cleared to practice in late July. “I’m excited to get these reps and have these reps to get better right now.” He added playing in the preseason will give him an “opportunity to get hit.” Burrow likely won’t play more than a couple series before Jake Browning or Logan Woodside take over under center.

Sample (6'3/272) has been a member of the defensive line rotation since joining Cincinnati in 2021 and finished the 2024 season with 1.5 sacks and 29 tackles. The 24-year-old defender will now rehabilitate with a chance to play a similar role for the Bengals in 2025; assuming he stays in the organization.

Gesicki likely won’t participate much during practice Monday with the Bengals reportedly having a “heavy special teams day.” The 6-foot-6 tight end was brought in this spring, and he has a chance for a decent role as an option out of the slot in the Cincinnati offense.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote after his recent trip to Bengals camp, “Don’t be surprised, though, if tight end Mike Gesicki ends up being the de facto No. 3 receiver.” Gesicki has been an afterthought in offenses for the last three seasons. Fresh off a 2021 campaign in which he totaled 73-780-2, he managed just 32 catches for 362 yards and five touchdowns in his first and only season under Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel and had one of the worst years of his career with the Patriots last season. Now, playing in an offense that’s prioritized the pass since Taylor first arrived in 2019, Gesicki has a chance to rebound from two down seasons and re-establish himself as a threat in an offense that’s expected to be amongst the league’s best in 2024.