Short hits: Bubble Bengals wait; Jordan’s struggle; Jaxsonian era on the O-line?
“It looks good on the stat sheet, but it could have been a lot better,” Njongmeta said after the final game of the season Thursday night against the Colts. “I could have had 15 tackles, but I missed four or five. I have to go back and see why I messed up.”
Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase returns to training despite contract dispute
Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, whose contract is on hold, participated in team practice for the first time during training camp on Sunday, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported, according to sources.
Ja’Marr Chase takes a BIG step forward for the Cincinnati Bengals, practices on Sunday
Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase practiced on Sunday, according to Tom Pelissero. It was Chase’s first time working out. He did not attend any sessions during training camp.
According to NFL analyst, the Bengals should hire a free agent RB before the cuts
But after those two, Trayveon Williams is the third running back on the roster who can be useful on special teams, and Cincinnati’s first wave of recent cuts resulted in the release of another player on the reserve team.
Bengals Roster Breakdown: Drew Sample’s niche role goes beyond the draft status he’s already freed himself from
Today, credit goes to tight end Drew Sample. One of the most surprising second-round picks in recent memory, Sample has managed to carve out a niche role for himself in Cincinnati as he enters his sixth season. He’s one of the most trusted and reliable players in the locker room, and he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
Watch: Cincinnati Bengals rookie puts up standout numbers from Matt Lee, earns BIG praise
The seventh-round pick started the Bengals’ final two preseason games. Lee had a pass blocking rating of 87.7, the best of all rookie offensive linemen, according to Pro Football Focus.
Running back named Bengals’ biggest X-factor for 2024 NFL season
While new addition Zack Moss is set to serve as the team’s starting running back, Cincinnati plans to fill the position on a timeshare basis, meaning Brown should get plenty of opportunities on the field. For this reason, Bleacher Report has named him as Cincinnati’s biggest X-factor for the 2024 NFL season. Here are some of the reasons:
Former Bengals star DJ Reader passes Lions medical and is removed from PUP list
Former Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader was officially activated from the PUP list after passing his physical with the Lions. Reader signed a two-year contract with Detroit in March. The veteran spent the last four seasons in Cincinnati.
Bengals rookie report card after training camp and preseason
The first results after training camp and these three test games suggest that the Bengals did incredibly well with their ten picks in the draft this year.
Bengals’ underrated OL occupied LT and RT in battle for final roster
For attentive fans, Kirkland was the exciting 2023 undrafted free agent from Washington who apparently fell out of the draft for medical reasons, so there was hope that he could slowly work his way up to being a contributor.
Bengals 53-man roster prediction: How did the loss to the Colts change the final picture?
All of the projected starters on offense and defense watched from the sidelines as the backups and third-rounders the Bengals have to make decisions on were given one last chance to make an impression.
Bengals roster overview: Injuries impact numbers game as final cut looms
The defensive line has been hit particularly hard, with backup end tackle Cam Sample (Achilles) out for the rest of the year, backup rookie defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson (knee) out since the second week of training camp, and backup edge Myles Murphy (knee) now out week-to-week after limping off the field during last Tuesday’s joint practice against the Colts.
