The Bengals are set to get tackle Trent Brown on the field for the first time this summer.
Brown passed his physical on Sunday and the Bengals will take him off of the non-injury list as a result. Brown went on the list when camp opened last month.
The Bengals signed Brown as a free agent this offseason. He spent the last three seasons with the Patriots and also spent the 2018 season in New England before joining the Raiders for a couple of years.
Brown is expected to be the right tackle in Cincinnati with Orlando Brown Jr. on the left side. The Bengals also have first-round pick Amarius Mims on hand this season.
The Bengals had a scare in training camp today when first-round rookie offensive tackle Amarius Mims was carted off the field, but he said afterward that he’s fine.
It was a hot day in Cincinnati and Mims indicated that leaving practice early was a precaution because of the heat, rather than an injury.
“I’ll be back tomorrow. I’m good,” Mims told reporters after practice. “The heat is the heat. I’m fine, man. I’m good.”
At 6-foot-8 and 340 pounds, Mims is one of the biggest players in the NFL, and big linemen can be particularly vulnerable to overheating during sweltering August practices. Mims took care of himself today so he’ll be good to go tomorrow.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s return to game action is likely to come next week.
The Bengals open up the preseason at home against the Buccaneers on August 10 and head coach Zac Taylor said that the current plan is for Burrow and other starters to see action in that contest.
“The first game — I’ve got targeted the first game,” Taylor said. “I’m not setting anything in stone right now, but I’m optimistic that’s where it’s trending for our team.”
A full list of who will play wasn’t outlined by Taylor, but a few first-stringers would seem to be on track to miss the game. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has not practiced at all since reporting to camp and Taylor said defensive ends Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson are week-to-week with injuries that have kept them off the field.
Assuming the starters do play, it may be their only action of the summer. The team has joint practices with the Bears and Colts before their other exhibition contests and that may be enough work for them to get ready for the regular season.
The Bengals’ top pass catcher and top two pass rushers all remain out of practice at training camp in Cincinnati.
Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and defensive ends Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard were all out today.
Chase hasn’t practiced since camp opened, and although he and coach Zac Taylor won’t say why, Chase wants a new contract, and Bengals owner Mike Brown doesn’t seem inclined to pay him what he’s asking for. There has been no indication that the sides are close to a resolution, so it could be a while before Chase practices.
The Bengals say Hendrickson and Hubbard are both day-to-day with minor injuries. Hendrickson requested a trade early in the offseason and appears unhappy with his contract, but coach Zac Taylor says Hendrickson had an injury on the first day of camp and will be back when he’s cleared to return.
Cincinnati’s starting defensive ends are each dealing with an injury. But according to head coach Zac Taylor, neither is looking at anything too serious.
While Sam Hubbard was carted off the field during Sunday’s practice, Taylor said in his Monday press conference that Hubbard is day-to-day.
“Just had a little issue yesterday,” Taylor said. “Obviously, it wasn’t anything significant. And so he’ll just be limited or out for a couple of days this week.”
Trey Hendrickson is similarly classified as day-to-day at this point, Taylor added.
“Trey’s been day-to-day since something that popped up Day 1 in practice — he got run into,” Taylor said. “So, we’ll just continue to take him day-to-day, too.”
Taylor elected not to disclose the exact nature of the injuries since he isn’t required to. But Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Hubbard’s injury is to his knee.
Hubbard registered 6.0 sacks, with seven tackles for loss and 17 quarterback hits in 2023. Hendrickson tallied a career-high 17.5 sacks with 16 tackles for loss and 25 QB hits last season.
