The Cincinnati Bengals are getting the best of Andy Dalton, early in camp. George Iloka could miss 3-4 weeks, after a scary moment.
Let’s start with the good news. Andy Dalton is looking good at training camp. His passes are crisp and tight, and he’s falling into the leadership role the team needs. When Andrew Whitworth left for the sun and fun of Los Angeles, Dalton was thrust into the role of sole leader. But, this isn’t new territory for The Ginger. He was becoming more vocal during his torrid 2015 campaign. But, I digress. This is about Dalton’s desire.
During the Bengals first day in pads, Dalton looked like the gunslinger who captured the NFL’s attention two years ago. Per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, Andy completed 11-of-12 passes. His only incompletion was a pass that was thrown a tad too high for speedster Josh Malone.
He spread his passes to different receivers and looked in control of the offense. In other words, the return of The Rifle.
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There was also a good deal of confidence about the offensive line. Dalton had tie to find his targets and didn’t get touched by defenders. It’s still early and the defenders aren’t pinning their ears back yet. But, the protection given by Cedric Ogbuehi is promising.
"“I thought the offensive line did well,” Dalton said. “And we did a good job with the blitzes we picked up.”"
Andy also stayed after practice to put in extra work with Mr. 422. John Ross could be getting more than a few deep balls on September 10.
Safety Issues
Hopefully, this isn’t the start of a trend. The Bengals have avoided major injuries, so far this offseason. But, the news of George Iloka’s knee injury is scary.
According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, Iloka suffered the injury during a routine play. The Bengals’ safety fell to the ground and immediately grabbed his right knee. An MRI revealed there were no major issues with the knee. But, Iloka could be out 3-4 weeks.
Being sidelined that amount of time could cost Iloka the preseason. But, better to be on the safe side. Having him ready for the regular season looms larger than the practice battles.