Bengals 2022 Training Camp: Top 3 takeaways from Day 8

Day 8 of Cincinnati Bengals training camp came and went. What did we learn about the defending AFC champions as they start their quest to repeat as AFC champs?

With a week of training camp now in the rearview mirror, the Cincinnati Bengals continue to grind until their first preseason game next week.

Something all fans are probably hoping for right now is that the injury bug would stay away. We’ve seen several players get banged up and carted off ever since camp started last week and that’s never a good thing when players are getting hurt. It is, unfortunately, a common part of training camp for all teams.

With the injury bug addressed already, let’s jump into the takeaways from Friday’s practice and the media sessions.

Sample injury update

Before the team took the practice field, Zac Taylor spoke to the media and gave us an update on tight end Drew Sample, who left the field on Thursday after getting injured. Taylor noted that the team “dodged a bullet” with the results of Sample’s injury but that he’d be missing a few weeks.

Sample is more of a blocking tight end and some fans would argue that he shouldn’t have been the team’s second-round pick in 2019. Hayden Hurst will be the starting tight end so Sample’s absence isn’t a huge blow but he is a good blocker and an important piece in the offense so hopefully we see him back healthy soon.

D’Ante Smith injured

Another injury took place on Day 8 of training camp and that was D’Ante Smith. The second-year offensive lineman looked to have tweaked his lower right leg and was carted to the locker room during Friday’s practice, according to Ben Baby.

Smith was one of the Bengals’ fourth-round picks in last year’s draft and ended up making a name for himself in the preseason at the guard position as well, showing that he had versatility. Entering training camp, Smith likely projected as the backup left tackle should anything happen to Jonah Williams so losing him would be a big blow.

Another top-notch day for McPherson

Maybe I don’t need to include whenever Evan McPherson has a good day since most expect that to be the case but hey, kickers deserve shoutouts too! The second-year kicker went 6-of-6 on kicks and hit a 50+ yarder with ease to end Friday’s practice.

Dan Hoard included a fun conversation he had with McPherson in one of his tweets from Day 8, so check that out below.

And with that, another day of Bengals training camp is in the books!

"6 oldest NFL players to ever wear a Bengals uniform"