Bengals 2022 Training Camp: Top 5 takeaways from Day 7

After an off day, Cincinnati Bengals training camp continued with their seventh day of practice. What takeaways were there when all was said and done? 

With the Cincinnati Bengals‘ seventh training camp practiced officially in the rearview mirror, we’re inching closer to the start of the regular season. The team plays in their first preseason game in a week and before we know it, the team will be kicking off against the Steelers as the quest to return to the Super Bowl begins.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves here, let’s glance at some takeaways from Day 7 of Bengals training camp.

Burrow back at practice (not practicing though)

After undergoing surgery to get his appendix removed last week, Joe Burrow has shown up to practice a few times to watch and simply be there for his team while Brandon Allen takes the starting reps.

After a few days away from the training camp field, however, Burrow returned on Thursday and this time, he didn’t have a bandage on his arm from his surgery. The team hasn’t announced a return for Burrow but it’s good to see him healthy and hanging out with the team.

George taking first-team reps?

In one of the most shocking stories from training camp to this point, rookie UDFA Allan George took first-team reps with the defense while Eli Apple was out. George, who went undrafted out of Vanderbilt, signed with the team following the draft, and honestly, not much was to be expected from the guy but he’s obviously impressed the staff.

With George getting the first-team reps, second-round rookie Cam Taylor-Britt was playing with the second team. That wouldn’t be surprising if Apple was healthy but it was definitely a shock to hear that George was running with the ones while Taylor-Britt was still running with the twos.

Hilton on fire

This time last year, Bengals fans still weren’t used to seeing Mike Hilton donning the stripes considering that he had spent the first four years of his career with the Steelers. Well, Hilton made himself right at home and ended up being a key addition to this defense that helped get them to the Super Bowl.

It’s no surprise whatsoever to see Hilton picking up where he left off from last season in training camp. During Thursday’s practice, the former Steeler put on a show, notching an interception and breaking up a pass against Ja’Marr Chase.

It’d be great to see Hilton become an even more important piece in this Bengals secondary during the 2022 season.

Cappa back in action

The first free agent to sign a deal this offseason was Alex Cappa with the Bengals, as the two agreed to a deal just minutes into the legal tampering period. Cappa is going to be the right guard for a team, which is a position that was a revolving door in 2021.

Unfortunately, Cappa had been dealing with a core muscle throughout the summer so the team was easing him back into things. Charlie Goldsmith noted on Twitter that Cappa was participating in the full 11-on-11 drills, which is huge.

Both Cappa and newly-signed La’el Collins have been out with injuries but it’s good to at least see Cappa out there getting some work in.

Sample banged up

The Bengals might have signed Hayden Hurst to be their starting tight end this year but that doesn’t mean that Drew Sample can fade into the background again, at least not if he wants a decent contract elsewhere.

Sample hasn’t lived up to his second-round stock to this point but it’s still not a good thing that he had to leave practice early on Thursday. He might not be padding his stats but he’s a solid blocker and will provide a good TE2 behind Hurst this year.

Hopefully Sample is okay but we should know more in the coming days.