6 winners and 3 losers from the Bengals’ final preseason game

[Arkansas Bengal]

Jordan Battle was among the Bengals’ biggest bright spots in their preseason finale.

By Jason Garrison@JasonRG83  Aug 22, 2024, 11:00pm EDT  

 

 

The 2024 preseason is over. No more starters in street clothes on the sidelines throughout the game. No more backup evaluations.

The fake stuff is over, and the real stuff is about to begin.

 

The Cincinnati Bengals faced off against the Indianapolis Colts in Paycor Stadium on Thursday night in an underwhelming offensive display, losing by a score of 27-14. The Bengals haven’t won a preseason game since August 27, 2022, and they haven’t had a winning record in the preseason since 2018 (not that it matters).

 

Here are some winners and losers from what I would call a “Thursday Night Snoozefest” if the Bengals weren’t one of the teams playing.

Winners

Jordan Battle

Battle’s instinctual ability to put himself in the right place at the right time gave the Bengals their first points of the game. Late in the first quarter, Battle read Anthony Richardson’s eyes, stepped in front of a pass intended for Kylen Granson, and took it back to the house for the team’s first score, tying the game at 7-all.

 

Battle was one of the major bright spots of the 2023 season. He stepped into a starting safety role in his rookie season and was given a coverage grade of 76.4 by PFF throughout 2023, the third highest on the team.

 

Bengals first-half defense after the Colts’ first drive

Richardson and the Colts drove down the field and scored a touchdown on a 12-play drive to open up the game. After that, though, the Bengals' defense, without any of the starters in the game, went into lockdown mode. Not only did they score the team’s only points in the first half with Battle’s pick-six, but they forced the Colts to punt the ball after every one of Richardson’s drives in the first half.

 

When the Colts took Richardson out, the result wasn’t different. The Colts went on a 17-play, 69-yard drive that ended with a turnover on downs despite getting into the red zone. It was a fantastic display of bend-don’t-break defense.

 

This is the second straight week the Bengals backup defense has gone toe-to-toe with a starting offense and held their own. That bodes well for the Bengals in 2024.

 

Trayveon Williams

Williams was the only running back who was able to move the ball on a consistent basis. He out-carried all the other running backs by volume and averaged six yards per carry. Outside of a muffed catch, he looks ready to contribute to the offense more this season.

He finished the game with 11 carries for 66 yards.

 

Jermaine Burton

Burton caught four passes for 56 yards and scored the team’s only offensive touchdown. He looked great, making a few tough catches in traffic, and I fully expect him to be heavily involved in the offense early in 2024.

Burton has had an impressive preseason, and hopefully, that carries over into September and beyond.

 

Charlie Jones

Hey, let’s be positive.

Jones was back on the field after a knee injury suffered earlier in the preseason. He had a catch, but his big play was returning a kickoff for 48 yards. It was nice to see him healthy before the regular season started without him.

 

Cedric Johnson

The Bengals rookie edge rusher out of Ole Miss had a nice game. Late in the first half he sacked backup quarterback Sam Ehlinger. Unfortunately, the call was overturned thanks to an illegal touching penalty on fellow rookie and Ole Miss teammate Daijahn Anthony.

On the very next play, he blew past the left tackle again and forced Ehlinger to throw early and off center. He looked like he’s developing well, and with Myles Murphy laid up to start the season with a strain, Johnson flashing could be a big bonus for Lou Anarumo’s squad.

Losers

First-half offense

The Bengals offense, led by Logan Woodside, only ran 15 plays in the first half, and one of them was to kneel the ball and let the clock wind down to end the second quarter. They were going up against the Colts starters for a while but couldn’t get anything moving.

The Colts gained 178 yards in the first half to the Bengals’ 55.

Yuck.

 

Offensive football fans

Neither team looked great on offense outside of the Colts’ first drive of the game, especially in the first half. The Colts even trotted their starting offense out on the field, but outside their first drive, they just weren’t good. The second offensive touchdown in the game wasn’t scored until early in the fourth quarter, and it happened on a commercial break!

It was pretty much just unsuccessful drives between the 20-yard lines and a lot of punting.

 

Jackson Carman

It was the preseason finale. No starters played. The Bengals played some deep backups throughout the game to see who they want to keep around for the final four or five roster spots up for grabs.

They decided not to get a look at Carman until the fourth quarter. He’s a former second-round pick who has started games at tackle and guard. If he’s not going in until the last quarter of the team’s last preseason game, he’s probably not making the team.

—

Who caught your eye, good and bad, on Thursday Night Football?

 

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2024/8/22/24226498/bengals-vs-colts-6-winners-3-losers-nfl-preseason-game-jackson-carman?fbclid=IwY2xjawE03PhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHeeP2nYpb0NBNcS9iR5t3z2Av41bnDYCOUZHJZTzvl8Z3pXNyDLgxDHUJg_aem_C90Iy8wpm85MiR4EcI5yaA

[KA14_HOF]

Rehkow missed an opportunity to claim the punter's job. Is punting really this difficult? At this point, I'll settle for whoever is the best holder and hope we just go for it a lot on 4th down.

 

Cal Adomitis has very quietly been a fantastic replacement for Clark Harris. Without his reliability, Money Mac is less of a weapon.

[UncleEarl]

I know Burton made a few good plays, but the fact that he is playing that late in the game suggests he's not seeing much time at WR any time soon.  Currently he's listed as Higgins' backup.  Jones looks like their KR.  How many WRs dress?  Unless it's 6 I doubt Burton dresses. 

[Jamie_B]

1 minute ago, UncleEarl said:

I know Burton made a few good plays, but the fact that he is playing that late in the game suggests he's not seeing much time at WR any time soon.  Currently he's listed as Higgins' backup.  Jones looks like their KR.  How many WRs dress?  Unless it's 6 I doubt Burton dresses. 

 

Talent wise he should be out there but until he stops sleeping in meetings he's going to be bottom of the depth chart.

[Sea Ray]

Burton is our current Chris Henry. Loads of talent, lots of other issues to sort out. I do think Burton will figure it out and be OK. It'll probably be later in the year

[UncleEarl]

3 hours ago, Jamie_B said:

 

Talent wise he should be out there but until he stops sleeping in meetings he's going to be bottom of the depth chart.

Yeah, figured there was something holding him back.  Being a professional is important.  Better to learn that sooner rather than later. 

[Jamie_B]

28 minutes ago, UncleEarl said:

Yeah, figured there was something holding him back.  Being a professional is important.  Better to learn that sooner rather than later. 

 

From interviews he seems serious about wanting to prove himself, if that is the case then keeping him low on the depth chart until he can be attentive in meetings should motivate him to do so. I wont be surprised of Yoshi is the starter in the 3 spot but Burton moves up the depth chart very quickly.

[UncleEarl]

10 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

 

From interviews he seems serious about wanting to prove himself, if that is the case then keeping him low on the depth chart until he can be attentive in meetings should motivate him to do so. I wont be surprised of Yoshi is the starter in the 3 spot but Burton moves up the depth chart very quickly.

 

The reality is if he isn't paying attention in meetings he's going to screw up in the game at some point.  Make the wrong read and/or run the wrong route and that can end up as a turnover.  You can make 9 great plays in a row, but if you bomb one and it goes the other way no way the coaches or your QB are going to trust you. 

[Jamie_B]

33 minutes ago, UncleEarl said:

 

The reality is if he isn't paying attention in meetings he's going to screw up in the game at some point.  Make the wrong read and/or run the wrong route and that can end up as a turnover.  You can make 9 great plays in a row, but if you bomb one and it goes the other way no way the coaches or your QB are going to trust you. 

 

Exactly why he doesnt belong in the starting lineup yet.

[Griever]

2 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

 

Exactly why he doesnt belong in the starting lineup yet.

Thank goodness the WR room is an embarrassment of riches. With Andrei and Charlie seemingly coming on strong, this gives Burton the ability to observe and become a pro. When Tee gets his bag from another team next off season, hopefully he'll be ready.

[Jamie_B]

3 minutes ago, Griever said:

Thank goodness the WR room is an embarrassment of riches. With Andrei and Charlie seemingly coming on strong, this gives Burton the ability to observe and become a pro. When Tee gets his bag from another team next off season, hopefully he'll be ready.

 

The one thing this front office has always been good at is drafting WRs. Some better than others sure, but most have produced. (Sans John Ross)

 

Now if we can get better at finding Oline....

[Le Tigre]

[claptonrocks]

On 8/23/2024 at 11:35 AM, Sea Ray said:

Burton is our current Chris Henry. Loads of talent, lots of other issues to sort out. I do think Burton will figure it out and be OK. It'll probably be later in the year

I don't think the team worried about the issue

 

He's worked hard thru practice to now

He's improving his route tree .

 

He's going to be a big-time playmaker this season

 

[Sea Ray]

13 hours ago, claptonrocks said:

I don't think the team worried about the issue

 

He's worked hard thru practice to now

He's improving his route tree .

 

He's going to be a big-time playmaker this season

 

I see him as a matchup nightmare for defenses when we go 4 or 5 wide. With Chase, Tee, Andrei...the opposition's 4th or 5th best cover guy will be on Burton. That's gotta be mouth watering for Joe and Pitcher.

[|High School Harry|]

LOSERS

 

Any poor dupe who actually had to pay money for a ticket to that cluster bump.

[-GoBengals-]

On 8/23/2024 at 3:25 AM, KA14_HOF said:

Rehkow missed an opportunity to claim the punter's job. Is punting really this difficult? At this point, I'll settle for whoever is the best holder and hope we just go for it a lot on 4th down.

 

Cal Adomitis has very quietly been a fantastic replacement for Clark Harris. Without his reliability, Money Mac is less of a weapon.

 

I will continue to talk shit about adomitis as i am convinced me saying i dont trust him is the only thing keeping him on track.

 

On 8/23/2024 at 8:22 AM, UncleEarl said:

I know Burton made a few good plays, but the fact that he is playing that late in the game suggests he's not seeing much time at WR any time soon.  Currently he's listed as Higgins' backup.  Jones looks like their KR.  How many WRs dress?  Unless it's 6 I doubt Burton dresses. 

 

yea surface level he is a fun palyer but he is palying against UFL bench players out there. 

 

On 8/23/2024 at 12:49 PM, Jamie_B said:

 

From interviews he seems serious about wanting to prove himself, if that is the case then keeping him low on the depth chart until he can be attentive in meetings should motivate him to do so. I wont be surprised of Yoshi is the starter in the 3 spot but Burton moves up the depth chart very quickly.

 

i fear thats TJ Housh in his ear coaching him what to say. time will tell. i am nervous about this pick.

 

On 8/23/2024 at 1:39 PM, Griever said:

Thank goodness the WR room is an embarrassment of riches. With Andrei and Charlie seemingly coming on strong, this gives Burton the ability to observe and become a pro. When Tee gets his bag from another team next off season, hopefully he'll be ready.

 

Burton is the only #2 WR talent level guy in the room, everyone else is a 5 or lower. for a Scheme that would pit the #1 corner against the #2 and double the #1 WR, Iosivas isnt beating anyone thats a top corner. neither isa nyone else in that room aside from Burton. Situationally maybe, red zone, short tardage possession first down plays, etc.

 

On 8/23/2024 at 1:43 PM, Jamie_B said:

 

The one thing this front office has always been good at is drafting WRs. Some better than others sure, but most have produced. (Sans John Ross)

 

Now if we can get better at finding Oline....

 

there arent enough oline to field even 15 teams of good O-lines, has nothing to do with the front office, there arent 160 good linemen in existence, teamsa re paying for them more than drafting them all. 

 

22 hours ago, claptonrocks said:

I don't think the team worried about the issue

 

He's worked hard thru practice to now

He's improving his route tree .

 

He's going to be a big-time playmaker this season

 

 

that is about all he can do is run a deep route straight, and catch timing routes against 3rd stringers. and the QB is publicly saying he needs to get his head in his palybook. if joe cant count on him knowing everything from plays to audibles, to whatever else, he wont get much field time.

 

8 hours ago, High School Harry said:

LOSERS

 

Any poor dupe who actually had to pay money for a ticket to that cluster bump.

 

i never get the preseason hate, well i do hate getting charges full price for it, like why not make them price $20 for those and raise the regular season games prices? at least make us feel better..

 

but the games, espeically with younger kids, are phenomical, i just got messages from my in laws from the game they went to, move down to front row, got players gloves and autographs, cool videos og guys running back touchdowns, nothing but smiles throughout the stadium.

 

tons of fan value in preseason. lots of young men playing uot their dreams on a field they wanted to step on since they were a kid. i may be a big soft parent sucker, and maybe casue i watched my kids basketball journey for years now, but in a few months my kid is gonna step on a college basketball court and play college basketball, it may be the lowest level of college basketball that exists, teams and games people have never heard of and the general public would giggle at.. but im probably gonna be crying like a bitch in the stands, and i imagine there is a lot of that going on with the 30+ guys whose journey ends this week. im super happy for those dudes.

 

not a ton of super fan value, nothing at stake. but lots of dreams coming true no matter how exciting the game is or isnt.

[claptonrocks]

30 minutes ago, GoBengals said:

 

I will continue to talk shit about adomitis as i am convinced me saying i dont trust him is the only thing keeping him on track.

 

 

yea surface level he is a fun palyer but he is palying against UFL bench players out there. 

 

 

i fear thats TJ Housh in his ear coaching him what to say. time will tell. i am nervous about this pick.

 

 

Burton is the only #2 WR talent level guy in the room, everyone else is a 5 or lower. for a Scheme that would pit the #1 corner against the #2 and double the #1 WR, Iosivas isnt beating anyone thats a top corner. neither isa nyone else in that room aside from Burton. Situationally maybe, red zone, short tardage possession first down plays, etc.

 

 

there arent enough oline to field even 15 teams of good O-lines, has nothing to do with the front office, there arent 160 good linemen in existence, teamsa re paying for them more than drafting them all. 

 

 

that is about all he can do is run a deep route straight, and catch timing routes against 3rd stringers. and the QB is publicly saying he needs to get his head in his palybook. if joe cant count on him knowing everything from plays to audibles, to whatever else, he wont get much field time.

 

 

i never get the preseason hate, well i do hate getting charges full price for it, like why not make them price $20 for those and raise the regular season games prices? at least make us feel better..

 

but the games, espeically with younger kids, are phenomical, i just got messages from my in laws from the game they went to, move down to front row, got players gloves and autographs, cool videos og guys running back touchdowns, nothing but smiles throughout the stadium.

 

tons of fan value in preseason. lots of young men playing uot their dreams on a field they wanted to step on since they were a kid. i may be a big soft parent sucker, and maybe casue i watched my kids basketball journey for years now, but in a few months my kid is gonna step on a college basketball court and play college basketball, it may be the lowest level of college basketball that exists, teams and games people have never heard of and the general public would giggle at.. but im probably gonna be crying like a bitch in the stands, and i imagine there is a lot of that going on with the 30+ guys whose journey ends this week. im super happy for those dudes.

 

not a ton of super fan value, nothing at stake. but lots of dreams coming true no matter how exciting the game is or isnt.

Good post.

 

Your views on our receivers being 5s   I can't fully agree with.(debatable)

Iosivas seems a 3 heading to a 2 in time.

 

Teams have Chase and Higgins to worry about..

Double Chase and put their starting corner on the side of Tee.

Burton as the 3rd in sets along with 

Gesicki  in the slot should thrive .

 

Seems a deep and solid corps.

 

 

[-GoBengals-]

1 minute ago, claptonrocks said:

Good post.

Your views on our receivers being

I can't fully agree with.

Iosivas seems a 3 heading to a 2 in time.

 

Teams have Chase and Higgins to worry about..

Double Chase and put their starting corner on the side of Tee.

Burton as the 3rd in sets along with 

Gesicki  in the slot should thrive .

 

Seems a deep and solid corps.

 

 

 

well i dont count Mike as a WR but perhaps i should, as far as WR depth is concerned. Iosivas is talented but im not sure he has the speed to be a top 2 WR in the league. he reminds me of Tj Housh, just more physical ability, but not a lot more speed. i could be, and hope im wrong, but i think he is a 3/4 at best guy, gotta see how defenses play us. but when Tee leaves, Chase - Burton - Iosivas isnt a very dynamic group, id aimgine we add another WR in the draft next year as well, most drafts are deep with it and having the depth is important, but top 2-3 round guys are a necessity. i really feel Iosivas as Tj Housh big time.. like a spot on generational comparison. BUT i feel the game has move even more to smaller faster WR's with the fluke talents like Tee being the exceptions. 

 

i like the group, i just dont like it if tee is gone and we go to war with whats left.. 

[Jamie_B]

54 minutes ago, GoBengals said:

 

i fear thats TJ Housh in his ear coaching him what to say. time will tell. i am nervous about this pick.

 

I'm sure he is, I don't know that that's a bad thing though. Having a former pro and big bro type can help him grow up, especially having gone through an immature teammate like he did when Chris Henry (RIP) was here. Like you said, time will tell.

[-GoBengals-]

2 hours ago, Jamie_B said:

 

I'm sure he is, I don't know that that's a bad thing though. Having a former pro and big bro type can help him grow up, especially having gone through an immature teammate like he did when Chris Henry (RIP) was here. Like you said, time will tell.

 

yea but doing what youre told and beleiveing it and doing it becuase you realize it needs to be done are way opposites, so youre right, if it is the case i hope he is understanding it and soaking it in

[T-Dub]

On 8/23/2024 at 8:35 AM, Sea Ray said:

Burton is our current Chris Henry.

 

I don't see that as a fair comparison at all.  Burton may be immature or even lazy but so far as I know he hasn't waved a gun in any nightclub parking lots.  I think Henry kind of got done dirty - probably pulled a gun for a reason, the DUI he was .01 percent over the legal limit, misdemeanor marijuana possession come the fuck on...  But I think he had more baggage than this Burton dude for sure.

[|High School Harry|]

9 hours ago, GoBengals said:

 

i never get the preseason hate, well i do hate getting charges full price for it, like why not make them price $20 for those and raise the regular season games prices? at least make us feel better..

 

but the games, espeically with younger kids, are phenomical, i just got messages from my in laws from the game they went to, move down to front row, got players gloves and autographs, cool videos og guys running back touchdowns, nothing but smiles throughout the stadium.

 

tons of fan value in preseason. lots of young men playing uot their dreams on a field they wanted to step on since they were a kid. i may be a big soft parent sucker, and maybe casue i watched my kids basketball journey for years now, but in a few months my kid is gonna step on a college basketball court and play college basketball, it may be the lowest level of college basketball that exists, teams and games people have never heard of and the general public would giggle at.. but im probably gonna be crying like a bitch in the stands, and i imagine there is a lot of that going on with the 30+ guys whose journey ends this week. im super happy for those dudes.

 

not a ton of super fan value, nothing at stake. but lots of dreams coming true no matter how exciting the game is or isnt.

Even at a discounted price for preseason games its like going to a Searchlight, Nevada,

brothel that advertised Taylor Swifts's hotter sister and getting Nancy Pelosi.

And you don't take kids to brothels.

[UncleEarl]

16 hours ago, GoBengals said:

 

Burton is the only #2 WR talent level guy in the room, everyone else is a 5 or lower. for a Scheme that would pit the #1 corner against the #2 and double the #1 WR, Iosivas isnt beating anyone thats a top corner. neither isa nyone else in that room aside from Burton. Situationally maybe, red zone, short tardage possession first down plays, etc.

 

 

I think you are way under valuing Iosivas.  The guy is a top tier athlete with size.  He may not be a burner, but you don't have to be at #2.  Big, strong, smart, and good hands will take you a long way. 

[Sea Ray]

7 hours ago, UncleEarl said:

 

I think you are way under valuing Iosivas.  The guy is a top tier athlete with size.  He may not be a burner, but you don't have to be at #2.  Big, strong, smart, and good hands will take you a long way. 

 

If you can run a sub 4.4 forty, you're a burner in my book

 

Quote

The 6-2, 212-pound Iosivas, an All-American in two different sports as a heptathlete, has a big burst after catch and has been timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.39 seconds.

https://www.bengals.com/news/andrei-iosivas-nfl-draft-wide-receiver-princeton

 

[-GoBengals-]

23 hours ago, T-Dub said:

 

I don't see that as a fair comparison at all.  Burton may be immature or even lazy but so far as I know he hasn't waved a gun in any nightclub parking lots.  I think Henry kind of got done dirty - probably pulled a gun for a reason, the DUI he was .01 percent over the legal limit, misdemeanor marijuana possession come the fuck on...  But I think he had more baggage than this Burton dude for sure.

 

yea henry got hosed, not as much as Odell Thurman tho. nothing but offseason missed drug tests and some drunken nonsense.

 

17 hours ago, High School Harry said:

Even at a discounted price for preseason games its like going to a Searchlight, Nevada,

brothel that advertised Taylor Swifts's hotter sister and getting Nancy Pelosi.

And you don't take kids to brothels.

 

lmao

 

11 hours ago, UncleEarl said:

 

I think you are way under valuing Iosivas.  The guy is a top tier athlete with size.  He may not be a burner, but you don't have to be at #2.  Big, strong, smart, and good hands will take you a long way. 

 

i may be, hell i hope i am. but me and 31 nfl teams that didnt draft him for 6 rounds. not that thats the end all opinion obviously but he has an uphill battle to be a factor in this league, i do really hope he is a guy that jutst needed to be around the skil llevel and training level to get there himself, which is 100% possible, hard to max out at priceton, has he been on Alabama he may be a top 2 round guy maybe? but he hasnt shown anything to make him more than a 3 in my unseasoned opinion. doesnt get much as far as seperation, isnt a burner, and feels like a possession catch in traffic guy to me.. which is great, but probably lands you at a #3 wr peak. He really just feels like a modern day Housh, but modern day Housh's are #3's unless you have a specialty #3 of some sort. ilove the guy. i hope he is great, i just dont see that high of a ceiling. this is the best shot for his entire live right now, top QB in the league, top talent around him, should have prime matchups and trust of a top talent QB.. this is it.. make it happen.

 

3 hours ago, Sea Ray said:

 

If you can run a sub 4.4 forty, you're a burner in my book

 

 

 

bengals are being kind in his bio, princeton and combine has him at a 4.43, not that im splitting hairs over .04 seconds.. he falls into the 15th-25th range for 40 and 1 yard split times. he is athletic, should be great in traffic and polished on routes.  hope he is a killer. great personality, really likeable guy, im just strictly babbling about what i think his ceiling is.. i will gladly be wrong.