The preseason kicks off for the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday, as they’ll host the Arizona Cardinals. What matchups should the fans be keeping their eyes on?
The Cincinnati Bengals begin their preseason action on Friday against the Arizona Cardinals. It will see several intriguing battles as roster spots are up for grabs.
While the stars of both teams will be limited, it will give us an insight into those fighting for a backend roster spot. With training camp narratives slowly establishing themselves, it’s finally an opportunity for the players to suit up for some real game time.
Interestingly, Arizona released a depth chart tailored to the game this week, giving us a good idea of the players who will see action. With that in mind, our first matchup is a Bengals back looking to move up the depth chart and a Cardinals linebacker with plenty to prove.
All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference unless stated.
Chris Evans vs Zaven Collins
Chris Evans should have a legitimate shot at the RB2 slot this preseason. He can expect a decent workload on Friday evening with Joe Mixon likely rested. Evans’ dual-threat ability as a runner and pass-catcher has excited onlookers in training camp so far.
He could be the Bengals’ most versatile attacking weapon considering he has lined up in the slot, backfield, and returns kicks. Fans can expect to see him early on and get reps against the more experienced Cardinals defenders.
Lining up across from Evans will be Arizona’s first-round selection from 2021. Zaven Collins is penciled in to start on Friday, a surprise given he is considered a regular season starter for the Cards.
The suggestion is that Collins needs to show progression after a slow rookie year. Collins only started six games and contributed 25 tackles through last year. At 6’4″ and 260 pounds, he may get more reps on the edge, but if he wants to stick at off-ball linebacker, he needs to prove himself in coverage against running backs like Evans.
This battle will be critical to see if the Bengals can get the ground game going and also if they can attack the middle of the field and expose Collins in pass coverage.
Joseph Ossai vs Josh Jones
The Bengals only got a limited look at Joseph Ossai last year, and they liked what they saw. He hopes to stay healthy throughout the preseason and prove himself as a rotational pass rush weapon behind Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard.
Ossai’s first test will be against a player linked heavily with the Bengals during the 2020 Draft. Touted as a first-round talent by some, the Cardinals were pleased to grab Josh Jones in the third. However, Jones has failed to cement a starting role, bouncing between guard and tackle.
He had another challenging year in 2021, posting a PFF grade of 46.7, allowing 29 pressures and four sacks. It’s fair to say that this year could be his last shot at a starting role. He will be penciled in to start at tackle on Friday evening, which means he could face Ossai.
The Bengals rusher will likely be licking his chops at the thought. The only thing that could save Jones is that former Raven Trace McSorley will be the quarterback and has some of the escapability traits of Cardinals’ first-string QB Kyler Murray.
Jackson Carman vs Leki Fotu
The Bengals will have offensive line worries of their own. Jackson Carman has failed to grasp his opportunity as starting left guard, and question marks remain. Offensive line coach Frank Pollack has been bullish about Carman’s improvement, but fan skepticism is warranted.
One positive for Carman is that he doesn’t have to face veteran J.J. Watt in Friday’s encounter. Instead, it will be a combination of Rashard Lawrence and Leki Fotu. The two will likely battle for the starting nose tackle gig come the regular season, but Fotu is tasked with creating pressure outside the center against the Bengals.
Fotu didn’t log a sack last year and had two tackles for loss. It’s unlikely that Carman should have many worries on true pass sets. It will be interesting to see if Carman can handle the size and power of the 6’5″ and 335-pound Fotu.
Carman should get plenty of snaps on Friday, so the coaching staff gets a real feel for his progress. There is still competition in the form of Cordell Volson and Lamont Gaillard, meaning the left guard spot will be a significant focus for fans against the Cardinals.
Zach Carter vs Will Hernandez
Replacing the seven sacks, Larry Ogunjobi produced last year for the Bengals will be no mean feat. B.J. Hill was given the contract that suggests he must shoulder most of the burden from the 3-Tech position. However, rookie Zach Carter has been showing out in practice, and his inside-outside versatility has garnered plenty of attention.
The Bengals will be keen for him to see some live action, and the likelihood is he will line up across from the Cardinals’ free agent addition Will Hernandez, who has plenty to prove. The former second-round pick left the Giants to sign a one-year, $1.2m deal with the Cards, hoping to test free agency next year after an improved performance.
After a decent rookie campaign, things went downhill at the Giants for Hernandez, and he posted blocking grades of below 60 per PFF in 2021. The hope will be a change of scenery will benefit the right guard. His most significant trait is his nastiness and ability to impose himself on defensive fronts, but it has little effect if the basics aren’t right.
A defender like Carter could pose several questions to Hernandez. The physical battle will be interesting, considering the Cardinals lineman has somewhere between 30-40 pounds extra bulk than Carter. That said, Carter’s experience as an outside pass rusher means he has the speed and hand quickness to cause trouble in the passing game.
Daxton Hill vs Greg Dortch
If you have been paying attention to the Cardinals’ training camp, you will know the name generating the most buzz is wide receiver, Greg Dortch. The former Wake Forest man is now in his third year in the league and hopes this time he can contribute during the regular season.
He looks to be in direct competition with Andy Isabella for a slot role behind presumed starters A.J. Green, Marquise Brown, and Rondale Moore until DeAndre Hopkins returns from suspension. Isabella is more of a household name than Dortch, but it’s clear who is ahead in fans’ eyes.
It was tricky deciding who to match Dortch up against, but I would be most intrigued to see him 1-on-1 against Daxton Hill. Hill likely provides a direct replacement for deep-lying safety Jessie Bates until he returns to camp. However, his primary use for Michigan last year was as a slot defender.
Seeing Hill having to defend against Dortch would give us an idea of how versatile the first-round draft pick is. He has been impressing in camp, and moving around the formation on Friday would be no surprise. Testing himself versus the man in form, Dortch, would be an excellent introduction to the league.
Which of these matchups are you most looking forward to watching?