Who Dey notes: Bengals’ Lewis back to the grind, injury focus
By Emile Pierce
Marvin Lewis’ injury won’t keep him away from the Bengals. He’s a trooper. Training camp means injuries. Cincinnati has had their share already.
If you thought Marvin Lewis was going to be MIA for the Bengals’ preseason opener Friday, you were wrong. Lewis will be roaming the sidelines when Cincinnati takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Marvelous Marv was absent from Tuesday’s practice to get treatment for a cyst that caused his knee to swell. After getting a little down time and some meds, he’ll be back in the saddle and getting a close look at the battle.
Per Bengals.com, Lewis was able to attend meetings Tuesday night and appears healthy enough to direct the team on the field.
In a statement, Lewis was looking forward to getting back to the grind.
"“I was able to return to work last night. After receiving great medical care, I especially want to thank all of the doctors, nurses and technicians who treated me. I am glad to be back with the team as we prepare to play the Buccaneers on Friday.” More from Bengals NewsDenzel Ward wants to flex on Bengals WRs in 2022Scouting the enemy: Bengals preseason opener chat with Raising ZonaBengals should place these 3 players on the trade block3 advantages the Bengals have over the Steelers in 2022Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase reveals his top 5 wide receivers"
Lewis is entering what could be his final year as head coach of the Bengals. President and Owner Mike Brown and Lewis have not come to terms on an extension. Entering the season without a contract has been par for the course, with Marv and Brown. Fans have gotten used to the routine. But, this is possibly the longest they’ve gone without some sort of negotiation.
Having a hands on approach means a lot. This is a pivotal season for the Bengals as a franchise and Lewis as a coach. It’s been 26 years since the Bengals have won a postseason contest. Under Lewis, Cincy is 0-7.
‘Tis The Season
First there was the George Iloka situation. When he went down and immediately grabbed his knee, fans attending the training camp session groaned. As the news spread over social media, Bengals faithful imagined the worst. Thankfully, Iloka will be fine and won’t require surgery.
After that scare, Joe Mixon was thought to have a foot injury. Can’t have the running back of the future catching a flat tire. It turned out to be a kick to his heel. Another bullet dodged.
But, now, the injury to TE C.J. Uzomah is in the spotlight. According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, Uzomah will be nursing a severely sprained left ankle. He injured himself during a blocking drill.
The Bengals will be fine, going into Friday’s scuffle with the Buccaneers. But, the alarming amount of injuries is truly something to be aware of. Bumps and bruises are a part of any training camp. It’s the fear factor that makes fans and coaches cringe. When a player goes down, the first thought is of how bad it may be.
Tight ends Tyler Eifert and Tyler Kroft are at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions on the depth chart, respectively. But, it’s still nice to be at full strength. Look for seventh-round pick Mason Schreck to pick up some extra snaps.