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The reason that coaches like joint practices is because it give your starters as many as 60-70 snaps in a more controlled environment with officials and simulated game conditions. Is there risk for injuries? Sure. But our franchise QB got hurt without another player anywhere near him. Shit happens. Expect joint practices to still be a training camp tradition next year and beyond.

With Hubbard and now Hendrickson now under contract through 2025, Murphy doesn't have much chance to start in his first two years anyway. But both Ossai and Sample are on 4 year contracts that end after next season. That is when Murphy will really be needed. So he has plenty of time to develop some more moves to go with his elite size and athleticism.

This is my position. I don't want the stud WRs playing in a game with these scattershot backup QBs. But the OL and the RBs need real game work with all of the new PA/PRO emphasis out of the shotgun.

I am on the fence here. As has been pointed out many times, that joint practice with Green Bay was far more grueling than any exhibition game. The various units for both teams were lining up against each other on two separate fields for well over two hours. One of the starters (believe it was Hubbard) said that he got something like 60-70 snaps and was exhausted as a result. The Bengals 1st team defense absolutely dominated the Packers 1st team offense so Anarumo was quite pleased with his unit. OTOH, the Packers 1st team defense also shut down the Bengals offense, making it clear that Cincinnati isn't where they want to be on that side of the ball. Not too surprising without Burrow, but it is still concerning. The offense might need the reps in an exhibition game to see some of the schematic changes on that side of the ball, but again (as always, it seems) they would have to play the preseason game without Burrow. I cringe when I think about these backups QBs throwing errant throws to these stud WRs that put them in danger of big hits. I think I would like to see only the offensive line 1st team and Mixon start, just to see where the running game out of the shotgun is in terms of the new changes. But not the entire starting units on both sides. This is probably a borderline decision for Zac Taylor, nothing clearcut.

Don't look now, but Chris Evans seems to be coming fast despite having to endure "coaching bias." This is his third year in the league, maybe he's ready to turn the corner. Because he can be such a dynamic threat coming out of the backfield, I would love for him to take that 3rd down back role. Despite dropping a pass, Evans apparently had a great overall practice. Especially in pass pro. From Charles Goldsmith: • Running back Chris Evans rode drop towers and let a police canine chase him during a team visit to Fort Knox during the offseason to help him develop as a pass protector. He had his best practice of the year on Monday and the best practice of his career as a pass blocker. On a day where Anarumo consistently dialed up blitzes, Evans was often in the perfect position.

I'm definitely coming around on shelving the stud WRs because these backup QBs put them in bad positions all the time. The offense clearly misses Burrow, and honestly I think it hurts the defense a little too. Burrow would be able to challenge the DBs so much more than Siemian and Browning are doing right now.

Both Brown and Evans received praise (and yes, some criticism) from the media and coaches for their performances on Friday night. Here is Paul Dehner and a Zac Taylor quote on Brown: The fifth-round pick didn’t have an impressive line rushing the ball, managing only 12 yards on eight carries, but Brown’s best plays came in the passing game. He caught three passes for 33 yards and twice made defenders miss on a checkdown for extra yardage. “Just doing my job,” Brown said. “End of the day, I got to make people miss to find a role on this team.” Coach Zac Taylor pointed out that the 1.5 yards per carry might seem ugly, but he was 2-of-2 converting third-down and short-yardage situations. Those are critical for anyone, but specifically an undersized rookie looking to prove his physicality in the NFL. “That’s not going to show up in the stats, either,” Taylor said. “That’s going to show up as two carries for 2 yards, but those are big runs for us in the game. That’s a positive." Brown’s scouting report suggests running the ball shouldn’t be an issue, and you saw some of that burst in specific spots. The fact he did so well as a receiver was more encouraging than any stat line.

Yes, it was. Other beat writers have taken note of the changes, but haven't bothered to go into great detail the way that Charles Goldsmith just did.I believe we would be hearing more reports about the schematic changes if Burrow was the one out there executing the offense. Instead all we are getting is that the 1st team defense is dominating the 1st team offense in training camp for the third consecutive year. And what do all of these last 3 training camps have in common? No Burrow. I have lost track of the pass breakups that would've been first downs or even touchdowns if Burrow was the one throwing the ball. That one dude makes all the difference in the world.

Jones has been the favorite to be the punt returner throughout training camp. Jones and Trent Taylor have seen most of the punt returner reps thus far.

If the coaches believed what you just wrote, I'm sure they would've encouraged Jones to have the surgery. That certainly does not appear to be the case. Jones is still a much more polished receiver than Iosivas, a great route runner with a rep for always being where he's supposed to be. For a QB like Burrow, who likes to throw the ball before his receiver even makes their break, those skills are invaluable.

You have to remember that Jones is 25 years old, which was probably the main reason the Bengals were able to draft him in the 4th round .A healthy Jones is plenty good enough. He was having an excellent camp up until the labrum injury. The only question now is how much does the injury affect his ability to make plays. It seemed to bother him in the exhibition game, but can he make the necessary adjustments the way Higgins did in 2021? Guess we will find out.

This is a truly great, informative article by Charles Goldsmith explaining the new changes in the offense. So happy that they are doing a 100 percent install now even with the QB who will run it being unavailable. Guess the coaches are getting used to Burrow not being able to practice in August and are still planning to hit the ground running This year they aren't bothering to wait for him to return.

Not all labrum tears are the same. For instance, Joseph Ossai's recovery from surgery lasted far longer than 6-8 weeks. CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai's status for offseason workouts remains uncertain as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. On Monday, Ossai told local reporters he had surgery in February to repair a torn shoulder labrum sustained in the Week 14 win over the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 11. The former Texas standout entering his third season said the recovery timeline is estimated at around four to five months but he is expected to be back before the team starts training camp.

Why would they want to shut Jones down? Higgins played with a torn labrum in 2021, Ossai did the same last year. It isn't considered an injury that will get worse if you play with it. Most guys just get the procedure after the season is over. That's when they have many months to recover after the surgery.

Interesting new development...