Day 2 of Cincinnati Bengals training camp is officially in the books! What did we learn about the defending AFC champions after the second day of training camp?
The first day of Cincinnati Bengals training camp gave us injuries, updates, and position battles. The second day had a little bit of everything sprinkled in during a hot Cincinnati July day.
For those who braved the heat, they got to see most of the team work out for the second time this summer. Obviously, Joe Burrow and Jessie Bates weren’t present for different reasons but everyone else was there and ready to work out in the sweltering heat.
Speaking of Bates, let’s start with him.
Bates reaches out to rookie
How can Jessie Bates be a topic of conversation if he didn’t even show up to practice, you ask? Well, before practice got underway, rookie first-round pick Daxton Hill spoke to the media and revealed that Bates had reached out to him via text.
Bates might not be there as he rides out this holdout but this is a really nice gesture from the Bengals safety. He knows that Hill was drafted to potentially replace him and he’s still making it a point to reach out to him and be a good teammate. That should remind Bengals fans of why Bates is such a good player for the team to have even if some are angry with him right now.
Bates didn’t have to take the time to do this but he chose to reach out to the rookie and offer assistance. Props to Bates for being the bigger person in a difficult situation.
Jacques Patrick is back
For the last two preseasons, Bengals fans have seen Jacques Patrick taking handoffs in the backfield. After impressing last preseason, Patrick failed to make the 53-man roster but after Elijah Holyfield was carted off with an injury on Wednesday, the former XFL product is back.
It’s a bummer for Holyfield, who was fighting to make the practice squad but it gives Patrick another opportunity to finish what he started. It’s doubtful he makes the roster, at least not if the team keeps just three running backs, but if they go with four, he could have a shot at that No. 4 spot.
Hayden Hurst — the early star of camp
After C.J. Uzomah signed with the Jets, the Bengals needed to find another starting tight end and went with former first-round pick Hayden Hurst. Poor Hurst has had a rollercoaster of a career to this point, getting outshined by Mark Andrews in Baltimore and then after putting together the best year of his career in 2020 with the Falcons, Atlanta drafted Kyle Pitts and he then became the starter.
Hurst has impressed so far in training camp, albeit it’s only been two practices. Still, he’s making the plays that have the fans “ooh”ing and aah”ing.
Not a great day for Brandon Allen
Let’s get this out of the way — It’s just practice and Joe Burrow is out due to having his appendix removed so Brandon Allen is taking first-team reps, something no one really planned for.
That being said, Allen didn’t have a great day on Thursday. In the first play of 7-on-7 drills, he was picked off by Vonn Bell who took the pigskin to the house. Not long after, Allen undershot Ja’Marr Chase by quite a bit and it was knocked away by Eli Apple, who of course, gave a signature finger wag.
There’s no need to be concerned here, as Allen is the backup quarterback and this is only the second day of practice. He did have a nice throw to Chase later on in practice that led to a 60-yard touchdown, so it wasn’t all bad.
Another day of Bengals training camp is in the books!