Bengals: Tee Higgins, Darius Phillips shine in Monday’s practice

Two young members of the Cincinnati Bengals, Tee Higgins and Darius Phillips, shined in practice on Monday.

The youngest on the Cincinnati Bengals’ roster are taking turns enjoying the spotlight. First, it was Joe Burrow. Then, Jonah Williams generated buzz. You can’t forget about Auden Tate either. Most recently, however, it’s been cornerback Darius Phillips and wide receiver Tee Higgins.

Starting with this year’s second-round pick, Higgins, at just 21-years-old, is already starting to turn heads. The team has slowly been working him into the mix after he suffered a minor injury to begin camp. As soon as he was able to get back into the fold for team drills, he started showing off his ability.

As reported by the Athletics’ Paul Dehner Jr., Higgins is continuing to do what he did the best while in college as a professional. His tremendous body control, leaping ability, and knack for winning 50-50 balls will allow him to act as an X-factor for Cincinnati this season.

Darius Phillips is stepping up for the Bengals as well

It’s still to be determined how long defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will be without his prized free-agent acquisition, cornerback Trae Waynes. However, it’s clear that the former Viking will miss several games. The best candidate to fill the void left by his injury is youngster Darius Phillips and so far, he’s living up to the challenge.

Bengals’ Senior Writer Geoff Hobson reported that while getting his opportunity with the first-string defense, Phillips tipped a pass, allowing teammate Jessie Bates III to come down with the interception.

That should come as no surprise, as Phillips has proven he’s a ball-hawk. In just 109 defensive snaps last season, the 25-year-old snagged four interceptions. If he can continue to perform in that regard, he can become the X-factor for the defense, similar to the role Higgins plays for the offense.

As Zac Taylor and Co. attempt to break in a rookie quarterback, welcome a plethora of new faces and turn things around after a disappointing first season, Phillips generating turnovers will help smooth things over.

Another day of practice, more positive reports from training camp. With just 20 days left until the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, the orange and black faithful will soon see if it converts to game day.