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Arkansas Bengal

BENGALS FANATIC
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Everything posted by Arkansas Bengal

  1. Report: T.J. Watt diagnosed with Grade 3 MCL sprain By Charean Williams Published January 6, 2024 07:51 PM The Stealers lost NFL sacks leader T.J. Watt to a knee injury in the third quarter Saturday, and they could be without him next week if they make the postseason. Watt was diagnosed with a Grade 3 MCL sprain, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports. That’s a complete tear of the medial collateral ligament, which is a multi-week injury. Watt will undergo further testing Sunday. Stealers coach Mike Tomlin allowed only that Watt is being evaluated for a knee injury. The defensive player of the year candidate collided with defensive lineman Montravius Adams while rushing Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley on a third down pass. He stayed down, pounding his fist on the ground after the play. Watt made two sacks Saturday, giving him a league-leading 19 for the season. Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson has 17. This would be Watt’s third time leading the league in sacks, which would set a record since sacks became an official stat in 1982. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-t-j-watt-diagnosed-with-grade-3-mcl-sprain
  2. Bengals make roster moves before Week 18 vs. Browns Chris Roling Sat, Jan 6, 2024, 12:15 PM CST·1 min read The Cincinnati Bengals made a pair of roster moves ahead of the team’s Week 18 game against the Cleveland Browns. Seeking depth at key spots for the season finale, the team elevated cornerback Sidney Jones IV and wide receiver Stanley Morgan from the practice squad to the active roster. As standard elevations, both players will return to the practice squad on the Monday after the game. Cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Jalen Davis are questionable on the final injury report, so Jones reinforces that area. More significant is the fact wideout Tee Higgins carries a “doubtful” tag into the game, so Morgan is important depth behind the likes of rookie Andrei Iosivas. https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-roster-moves-week-18-181542476.html
  3. Stefanski announced the following players will join Flacco on the sideline this weekend: DE Myles Garrett (who was “sore” on Friday) CB Greg Newsome II S Juan Thornhill LB Anthony Walker Jr. WR Amari Cooper CB Mike Ford K Dustin Hopkins
  4. Charlie Goldsmith, Cincinnati Enquirer Thu, Jan 4, 2024, 9:15 PM CST·5 min read Six years later, Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson is still in touch with quarterback Patrick O’Brien. They met at the 2017 National Bowl, a lower tier senior bowl in the pre-draft circuit. Hudson was clinging to the dream that he could make it in the NFL coming out of Southern Arkansas University, and O’Brien was doing the same thing after wrapping up his career at Catawba College. In that game, Hudson caught seven passes from O’Brien for 117 yards, including two touchdowns, and got his name on the radar in that NFL Draft cycle. Before then, he didn’t think he had much of a shot to make it, even as an undrafted free agent. Now, as the Bengals’ starting tight end, he’s proving that he belongs in the NFL. Without that relationship with O’Brien, he doesn’t get a chance to develop even stronger ones with Bengals quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Jake Browning. “I knew I could play, but it was about getting the right chance to do it,” Hudson said. “This is incredible. It’s been six long years for me. To get this opportunity and take advantage of it has been great.” Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson went from a practice squad player to a tight end producing starter-level production in 2023. Entering Week 18, Hudson ranks 21st among NFL tight ends in receiving yards per game. After spending six years on practice squads, including the start of 2023, he’s averaging 31 yards and two first down catches per game. Last year, former Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst averaged 31.8 yards and two first downs per game. Among tight ends with at least 30 catches this season, Hudson ranks sixth in catch percentage and ninth in success rate. He's finding open space in coverage, catching just about everything that gets thrown his way and keeping the chains moving better than the average starting tight end in 2023. Since training camp, Hudson has been a favorite of Burrow’s and Browning’s. Both quarterbacks have vouched for him, and Hudson has capitalized on his opportunity. “I have a lot of faith in him,” Burrow said in November. “He makes plays on the scout team every week. So when he was up (off the practice squad), I felt really confident about his ability to get open and make plays for us.” Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson ranks 21st in the NFL among tight ends in receiving yards per game this year. Before he got here, Hudson was cut eight different times by four different teams, including the Bengals. He signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and went on to make five total catches in three years. Last December, the Bengals signed him to their practice squad because they needed more depth. Hudson caught a fade in his first practice, making a great first impression. Every practice, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor noticed him making plays. “It's easy to get him the ball,” Taylor said. “That's why you see him show up and all of a sudden make catches in pretty tough situations. He has got a great awareness about him. And that's why that's why he's on the team.” Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson developed a close relationship with the Bengals' quarterbacks and earned their trust to make big catches in big moments. This year, Hudson was a training camp star. When Browning needed to complete passes to win the backup quarterback battle, he turned to the 29-year-old tight end. The Bengals cut Hudson at the end of the summer. He didn’t provide enough as a blocker or on special teams to beat out backup tight ends Drew Sample and Mitchell Wilcox for a roster spot, but Taylor reminded Hudson of how much the Bengals valued him. Taylor told him that the Bengals loved him, and, more importantly, their quarterbacks loved him. “Zac was very upfront and honest with me,” Hudson said. “I respect that a ton. Being able to stay and play under him with this team and this coaching staff, I was excited.” Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson stepped into a bigger role in the middle of the year and has capitalized on his opportunity. After Irv Smith Jr. injured his hamstring early in the season, Hudson earned a call up from the practice squad in Week 3. Burrow quickly showed his confidence in him by ripping an aggressive throw to Hudson on a seam route over the middle for a 26-yard gain. Then in November, following a game where Smith fumbled the ball near the goal line, the Bengals signed Hudson to the active roster. Since then, he has been as consistent as any Bengals pass catcher aside from Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Over the Bengals’ last nine games, Hudson has been one of the team’s top-three pass catchers in six of them. “I just stuck with the plan and the grind,” Hudson said. “Coming here, (tight ends coach James Casey) was an incredible resource to take my game to a new level. He helped me understand offense in the NFL in general, and he helped me understand defenses. Hearing his perspective and having a coach who also played in the NFL helped a lot.” Hudson’s limitations as a blocker will likely prevent him from being a full-time starter down the road, but he has earned a spot in the NFL as he heads into free agency this offseason. While Hudson has come out of nowhere as a success story, none of it has looked like a fluke. “Ever since he joined the Bengals, he has just been working,” Sample said. “Look at the skill set he has. He’s a great route runner. He can catch the ball really well. He has a really good feel for defenses. That’s been big for him. He brings a lot to our offense, and he takes advantage of his opportunities.” https://www.wave3.com/sports/betting/2024/01/07/bengals-browns-nfl-promo-codes-picks-predictions/
  5. Ja’Marr Chase confirms he will play this week By Charean Williams Published January 4, 2024 03:50 PM Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase confirms he will play Sunday, Jeremy Rauch of Fox19 reports. He has a shoulder injury that kept him out Week 16 but returned to play 54 snaps Sunday. Chase said he is better than last Sunday but estimated he’s only “73 percent.” Why play? "I want to show the guys I put my body on the line for those guys. I love football. You never know when it is really going to be your last game." The Pro Bowler had a limited practice Wednesday and likely the same Thursday, though the Bengals have not released their report yet. Chase has a career-best 96 receptions for 1,197 yards and seven touchdowns, with hopes of catching 100 passes this season. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jamarr-chase-confirms-he-will-play-this-week
  6. Chris Roling Wed, Jan 3, 2024, 7:07 PM CST·1 min read 1 Two Cincinnati Bengals stars have been named to the Pro Bowl. The honor goes to wideout Ja’Marr Chase and defensive end Trey Hendrickson, with both guys getting the third nods of their careers to date. At one point, Chase and Hendrickson were some of the top vote-getters at their respective positions and rightfully so, with both ultimately getting the nod despite the overall down season for the team. Chase battled injuries, while Hendrickson entered Week 18 tied for the NFL lead in sacks at 17 with a chance to become the first player in team history to pace the entire NFL in that category by season’s end. Running back Joe Mixon is a first alternate and offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. is a third alternate. https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-stars-ja-marr-chase-010729755.html
  7. Jeff Driskel will start for Browns in Week 18 By Josh Alper Published January 3, 2024 01:16 PM The Browns will start their fifth quarterback of the season in Sunday’s season finale against the Bengals. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said at a Wednesday press conference that Jeff Driskel will get the start at quarterback. P.J. Walker will serve as his backup as the Browns will rest Joe Flacco ahead of the opening round of the playoffs. Driskel signed off of the Cardinals’ practice squad last week when Dorian Thompson-Robinson was placed on injured reserve. He has made 11 other starts over the course of his NFL career. Stefanski said that the team won’t be able to rest all of their regulars for the Bengals game, but did not specify other players who are going to get the day off. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/cincinnati-bengals
  8. Charlie Goldsmith, Cincinnati Enquirer Tue, Jan 2, 2024, 9:09 PM CST·7 min read If the Cincinnati Bengals ended up beating the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, then Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson’s strip sack would have been the signature moment of a historic season. Hendrickson forced a fumble early in the second quarter that gave the Bengals all of the game’s momentum. It set up a short field and a touchdown drive that put the Bengals up by 10 points. It also gave Hendrickson his 17th sack of the season, which is tied for the most in the NFL. Hendrickson’s 17 sacks are the most in a single Bengals’ season since the NFL officially recognized sacks as a stat in 1982. But after his sack in Kansas City, the Bengals’ defensive line didn’t record another sack for the rest of the game. The Bengals finished the game with five quarterback hits, and the Chiefs had 14. Kansas City’s pass rush closed out the win for the Chiefs, and Cincinnati’s pass rush hasn’t done enough of that all season. The Bengals’ pass rush has still just been average, despite Hendrickson's incredible 2023 performance. 'A lot of missed opportunities': Bengals DE Sam Hubbard “Trey has done an unbelievable job,” defensive end Sam Hubbard said. “The rest of us, we’d like some more production. A lot of missed opportunities. We had a good stretch there (in the middle of the season) where we were playing with some leads and closed out a bunch of games and played really well. But as a group, we’ve got a lot to work on. We’ll address that and get better this offseason.” Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had plenty of room in the pocket in the Bengals' loss to the Chiefs The Bengals currently rank 16th in the NFL in sack percentage, 16th in pressures per dropback and 27th in quarterback hurries per dropback. According to ESPN analytics, the Bengals rank 24th in the NFL in pass rush win rate, which measures how often a pass-rusher is able to beat his block within 2.5 seconds. Cincinnati's expensive defensive line hasn't panned out According to Spotrac, the Bengals have the second-most expensive defensive line in the NFL. They also have a first-round pick, two third-round picks and a fourth-round pick on rookie contracts. The defensive line was supposed to be the strength of the defense this season, but it hasn’t panned out for the Bengals. “We've got guys who played a lot of snaps in that room, (like) BJ and Sam, and some young guys that will continue to come on as well,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. “That's an area we will continue to improve, and that's something we'll need to do.” Heading into the season, the Bengals saw the potential to assemble one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. Hendrickson, Hubbard and defensive tackle BJ Hill were coming off of career years, and defensive tackle DJ Reader had proven to be one of the best nose tackles in football. But the biggest source of optimism was the depth. Hubbard and Hill played a greater share of the snaps than anyone expected in 2022. With rookie Myles Murphy in the fold and with the Bengals projected leaps forward by defensive end Joseph Ossai and defensive tackle Zach Carter, the Bengals saw a more well-rounded group forming. “Every great defensive line has depth,” Hubbard said during training camp. “They have waves. When you look at the Eagles and the 49ers, that depth is so important. You get beat up and worn down. You’re tired at the end of a game after 20 weeks.” After a great first eight weeks, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard had a quieter end of the season as he battled injuries That plan looked like it was working through eight weeks. During that stretch, Hubbard had four sacks and eight quarterback hits. Then he missed two games with an ankle injury. Over the next six games, Hubbard recorded just one sack and three quarterback hits. Hubbard needs to have surgery in the offseason, and he says getting healthy could be a first step that leads to a stronger 2024. Hill had a similar season. Through eight games, he had four sacks and 13 quarterback hits. Over the next eight games, he has no sacks and seven quarterback hits. He’s having a career year as a pass rusher, but the depth behind Hubbard and Hill hasn’t picked the group up as much as the Bengals anticipated. During training camp, Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. said defensive end Joseph Ossai had the potential to take over games in 2023. It turned out that Ossai barely even got an opportunity to show what he could do. He suffered an ankle injury in the preseason finale and missed the start of the year. When he returned, the Bengals had developed a new rotation that had Reader on the field on third downs. There weren’t snaps available in pass rush downs, so Ossai didn’t get a chance to show his biggest strength. When the Bengals needed a run stopper, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo turned to Murphy or Cam Sample. “You’ve got to understand that life isn’t going to be a straight path,” Ossai said. “It’s a rollercoaster. You’ve got to make sure you’re as positive when you’re at your highest as you are when you’re at your lowest. When you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom, you’ve got to keep the same mentality. You know my injury history. If anything, that’s what it’s taught me. Past football, it will help me in life.” Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai hasn't lived up to expectations for his third year in the NFL. Ossai is playing nearly half as many snaps this season as he did last season, and he only has one sack after a 3.5 sack season in 2022. Anarumo said, “I’m not down on him. It's just a matter of opportunities.” The Bengals had to adjust their defensive line rotation when Hubbard was out with an ankle injury and again when Reader suffered a season-ending quad injury. Choosing between Ossai and Murphy, Anarumo gave more snaps to the first-round pick. “I want to continue to impact the team in a positive way,” Ossai said. “I obviously want to get stats for some selfish reasons. But if I can get a TFL here and there that leads to a punt, that can help us win. I want to impact the game to give us a victory. That’s enough for me.” As some players develop, free agency awaits others The Bengals always anticipated a learning curve for Murphy, a 21-year-old rookie with elite athleticism for his position. Over the last two months, he has been putting the pieces together and started making more splash plays. But he’s still just a rookie, and he only has three sacks and five pressures. He’s getting a chance to rush up the middle on third downs, but his improvement hasn’t been enough to turn around the Bengals’ entire pass rush. “I’m adding onto my game with what my teammates have been coaching me up to do,” Murphy said. “I’ve been learning as much as I can. Whether it comes to playing the run, pass rushing, knowing the backfield set, where they’re slotting to. In college, it’s ‘Here’s the man you’re rushing.’ Now, there’s so much more that goes into it. It’s all about where my eyes are.” Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy's improvement will be a critical component of the defense's success in 2024. The Bengals were counting on more from Carter this season. He played defensive end in college, and the Bengals saw a chance to develop him into a defensive tackle with a knack for rushing the quarterback. But this season, he has mostly played against the run. And defenses are attacking him in the run game and calling plays that go right at him. Despite playing 45% of the defensive snaps, Carter has no sacks, two quarterback hits and three pressures this year. Reader is set to hit free agency, and nose tackle Josh Tupou is the only other defensive lineman set to hit free agency. Even with nine returning defensive linemen, adding to the pass rush will be one of the Bengals’ biggest priorities this offseason. It’s just as important that the Bengals get more from the pass rushers that they already have on the roster. “We’ll have to go in there, study the film and do our end of season analysis,” Hubbard said. “I’ll go through my own film study and see what I want to improve. First and foremost, just get healthy.” https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-more-development-depth-firepower-030916680.html
  9. Updated: 8:49 AM EST Jan 2, 2024 Infinite Scroll Enabled Charlie Clifford CINCINNATI — The mood inside the Cincinnati Bengals locker room this week, as the Wild Card race that has consumed the past month is no longer a subject of conversation. Facing the Bengals this week is the question of how to get up to beat Cleveland Sunday to end the season? For Zac Taylor and the team, the good news is that question usually answers itself: It's Cleveland. It's a division game. And a winning season is on the line. Taylor says he's not worried about any notions about his team checking out this week ahead of the finale. "The encouraging thing is you sit here and you're out of the playoff contention, obviously, but you think through the roster. And because everybody used to be worried about now, it's we got a roster of guys that I know we're going to put their best effort forth all week in practice and on the game," Taylor said. "And so we're gonna have a great plan. You know, it's we're doing everything we can to win this game." "I don't think twice about it," said Cincinnati defensive end Sam Hubbard about his taking the field on Sunday. "You know, I came this far. I'm playing. I'm finishing the year strong. I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't want to leave my guys hanging." Taylor did not rule out any starters form Sunday's game, but that could change as the week goes on. One player it could especially change for is impending free agent Tee Higgins, who is once again battling a hamstring injury. https://www.wlwt.com/article/cincinnati-bengals-zac-taylor-cleveland-browns-week-18/46264891
  10. I have to believe that we would have won today if Burrow was healthy
  11. After the Detroit Dallas game yesterday I’m seriously wondering if the NFL games are rigged…
  12. Looks like it won’t matter if we win today or not. Pittsburgh is up by seven points with seven minutes left to go and they play Baltimore next week. The ravens will be resting all their starters so they’ll probably win for sure.
  13. I guarantee they would call, roughing the passer if that was Mahomes
  14. When our defense is on the field this much, they start getting worn down. Why not KC?
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