Takeaways from Bengals’ Second Preseason Game

Heading into the last minute of regulation on Sunday night, the Bengals had a 22-18 lead over the New York Giants. For more of the game than not, the Bengals – who once again held their starters on the sideline for all 60 minutes – looked like the superior team. Evan McPherson had kicked a trio of field goals, the offense twice punched the ball in on the goal line, and the defense – despite playing against the Giants’ starters, for a time – only allowed one scoring play through the first three quarters.

Then, Giants quarterback Davis Webb completed his second touchdown of the final quarter to pass to fourth-year receiver Alex Bachman. The Bengals only went down 22-25, but ultimately turned the ball over on the ensuing offensive drive.

While the team might be 0-2 this preseason, the standings are hardly the point. What might the team have learned from this matchup?

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Running Back

The Bengals have an interesting soup in their backfield between Chris Evans, Trayveon Williams, and Jacques Patrick. Evans has shown his long speed on several plays – even if several of them have been nullified by holding penalties. Wherever he falls in the backfield order, he’s probably locked into a spot on the team as a kick returner. Williams showed an impressive ability to redirect around inconsistent blocking and maintain his balance through contact. Some prospective fourth-string backs don’t have enough juice to move the needle as ball carriers; Williams isn’t one of them.

For a second week, Patrick joined the game late and looked every bit as powerful as his listed size (6’2″, 239) would suggest. He only took four carries, but earned a combined 28 yards on them and scored what could’ve easily been the game-winning touchdown from the 3-yard line. There may or may not be room for him in Cincinnati, but Patrick is an obvious fit for a role as a bruiser or closer in a run-heavy offense or on a team that consistently plays from ahead. He won’t spend 2022 looking for work.

Quarterback, Receiver, Tight End

With Joe Burrow firmly on the sideline for this preseason, the Bengals once again split snaps at quarterback between incumbent backup Brandon Allen and practice squad veteran Jake Browning (with a dash of undrafted rookie Drew Plitt). Allen’s snaps could’ve looked better, but we’re a long way from an actual competition emerging here regardless. Browning needs to make a strong positive impression to earn a roster spot, and he simply hasn’t to this point.

The available players at tight end – with Drew Sample and Mitchell Wilcox both sidelined with injuries – have been similarly unremarkable. Thaddeus Moss‘ most notable preseason plays include a block that injured Giants rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux and a handful of holding penalties.

At receiver, there appears to be a sort of competition between Kwamie Lassiter II, Kendric Pryor, and the cadre of special teams veterans ahead of them. Trent Taylor looks like the best and most consistent receiver the Bengals have on the field right now, but Lassiter is the one who led the group with seven catches and 91 yards. Pryor added 28 yards on four catches after having led the team himself in both metrics against the Cardinals.

Knowing where the duo stacks up against Mike Thomas (who hasn’t been available) and Stanley Morgan Jr. (who’s been available but scarcely helped on offense) is difficult. The veterans are known quantities on special teams, but how far does that carry them in the absence of offensive production or availability, against rookies who have shown legitimate upside?

At worst, Lassiter and Pryor are probably both looking at spots on the practice squad.

Dax Hill, Cordell Volson

A handful of players the Bengals have showcased these past couple of games have a chance to play in 2022 as full-time starters. Rookies Dax Hill and Cordell Volson are chief among them, and both looked ready for such a reality against the Giants. Hill logged the Bengals’ only forced turnover on a diving interception in the first quarter, which he accompanied with six total tackles. Volson played and held up the entire game at left guard, looking consistently better as the Giants moved down through their depth chart at defensive line across from him.

Other Defensive Standouts

The Bengals were deep in their roster at cornerback in this game – Chidobe Awuzie, Mike Hilton, Eli Apple, and Cam Taylor-Britt have all been on the sideline – but Jalen Davis looked like a quality offseason addition. The roster positions available for the corners that played are scarce, but Davis and Tre Flowers are probably the safest bets to make the cut. As for the group at large, the game – especially the fourth quarter – was one to forget.

Up front, linebacker Clay Johnston brought down everything in sight en route to leading the defense with 20(!) total tackles. With 26 total tackles this preseason – including two tackles for loss and a sack – Johnston’s case to play somewhere in 2022 is strong. He hasn’t overwhelmed viewers with splash plays, but his ability to make routine stops against the Giants was a welcome departure from the team’s overall struggles against Arizona the week prior.

Seventh-round rookie Jeff Gunter followed a strong showing against the Cardinals with a respectable second half against the Giants, including a quarterback hit and a pass deflection. The Bengals enjoyed several solid performances from their edge players and ultimately might leave a good player on the cutting room floor, but Gunter looks better than the pick they spent to get him. He won’t last on the practice squad if the Bengals let him get there – if he even makes it through waivers.

– Andy Hammel is the Managing Editor for the Bengals at Full Press Coverage. Follow @Andy_Hammel