Bengals kickoff returner Charlie Jones kicked Week Seven’s game against the Browns off with a bang.
Jones returned the opening kickoff of the game for a 100-yard touchdown that gave the Bengals a 7-0 lead they would not relinquish on their way to a 21-14 win.
Jones would add 39 yards in punt returns later in the game, but the opening highlight was the reason why the NFL announced on Wednesday that he is the AFC special teams player of the week. It’s the first time that Jones has taken the prize.
Jones also returned a punt for a touchdown during the 2023 season and he has averaged 7.1 yards per attempt in that role this year. He had two kickoff returns for 58 yards before going the distance against Cleveland.
There is some more clarity on the injury suffered by one of Cincinnati’s offensive linemen on Sunday.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. suffered a calf strain during the win over the Browns and is having more testing done to determine the injury’s severity.
Rapoport noted Brown’s condition is known as “tennis leg” because it commonly occurs with tennis players.
Brown, 28, is in his second season with the Bengals. The four-time Pro Bowler has been on the field for 91 percent of the team’s offensive snaps and 16 percent of special teams snaps so far this season.
After a 1-4 start, the Bengals have now won two in a row to improve to 3-4 on the season with a 21-14 victory over the Browns.
But the story from this game was Cleveland’s quarterback, as Deshaun Watson was carted off the field with an Achilles injury late in the second quarter.
Watson fielded a shotgun snap and attempted to take a designed run to his right, but immediately went down with a non-contact injury. Replay showed Watson’s right leg vibrating as he took a step, which is often a sign of a major Achilles injury.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson was active as the backup quarterback for the first time this season on Sunday and played until late in the fourth quarter when he was declared injured. Jameis Winston came in to replace him with 3:43 left in the contest.
Thompson-Robinson had suffered a finger injury and was ruled out.
But Cincinnati had little trouble stopping Cleveland’s offense with Thompson-Robinson at quarterback in the second half. And while the Bengals had trouble moving the ball in the first 30 minutes, the club’s offense got going in the third quarter.
Armed with a 7-6 lead at halftime, the Bengals made it 14-6 with Ja’Marr Chase’s 18-yard touchdown reception from Joe Burrow with 7:56 left in the third quarter. Then the club got a 25-yard touchdown from Burrow to Tee Higgins with 1:30 left in the third period to make it 21-6.
Winston helped get the offense moving, tossing a touchdown to tight end David Njoku with 1:27 left in the contest. He also connected with Cedric Tillman for a successful two-point conversion.
But Cleveland’s onside kick attempt failed, and the Bengals took a couple of knees to end the game.
Near the end of the fourth quarter, Bengals safety Geno Stone was carted off the field with an air cast on his left leg following a collision with Vonn Bell on an incomplete pass. Stone was ruled out with a left tibia injury.
Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. also had to exit the contest with a knee injury. Cody Ford came in to replace him.
Burrow finished 15-of-25 passing for 181 yards with two touchdowns. Tee Higgins led with 82 yards on four catches. Chase finished with five catches for 55 yards.
Nick Chubb had a touchdown run in his return, but finished with just 22 yards on 11 carries. He took just one carry in the second half.
Now at 3-4, the Bengals will host the Eagles next week as they strive to get to .500.
The 1-6 Browns will host the Ravens in Week 8, likely with a new starting quarterback.
The connection between Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase remains as strong as ever.
Though Cincinnati’s offense struggled in the first half against Cleveland, the club got going on its first possession in the second half to score a touchdown, building a 14-6 lead.
On second-and-5, Burrow fired a back-shoulder pass 18 yards to Chase that the receiver caught right at the front-left pylon for his sixth receiving touchdown of the year.
Cincinnati still has not converted a third down on the day, but the team didn’t need to when opening the second half.
Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has been downgraded to doubtful with a knee injury. Cody Ford has been in the game at left tackle to replace him.
The Bengals had started off with good field position after Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw too low to an open Nick Chubb on fourth-and-1 for a turnover on downs.
Thompson-Robinson then tossed an interception on Cleveland’s next drive, with the pass going off of Cedric Tillman’s hands and into the waiting arms of Sam Hubbard for the giveaway.
Cincinnati could not do anything with the extra possession, however, punting after the sudden change.
It’s official. Per the Browns, quarterback Deshaun Watson has an Achilles injury. He’s out for the remainder of today’s game.
Based on the video, which seems to show something in the back of Watson’s leg snap, the fact that it’s an Achilles injury suggests the tendon has torn.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson has taken over for Watson. Jameis Winston, who had been the backup, was demoted to No. 3 for Sunday.
If the Browns were simply hoping to take some steam out of a potential “we want Jameis” cacophony, Winston could be the starter next week, and beyond.
Regardless, it apparently won’t be Watson, for the rest of 2024. It’s another story — and a big decision — for 2025.
