The Bengals went live Saturday night at Paycor Stadium during a brisk 90-minute workout, and the sun-splashed fans enjoyed the pleasant 77-degree weather as well as another good practice from first-round pick Shemar Stewart.
Stewart, working with the second team, broke up a Jake Browning pass off the edge, would have had a sack on a play that was called off, and backed up tackle Devin Cochran into Browning as the Bengals continue to flop him on the edges.
Other takes from Saturday:
A good night for other rookies as well:
Left guard Dylan Fairchild, a third-round pick, had a dominant night in one-on-one pass rush, either face-planting his foe or stoning them at the point of attack. Running Tahj Brooks, a sixth-rounder, darted into the second level often on screens and runs. Fifth-rounder Jalen Rivers got the nod at right tackle with the first group and had some good moments and not-so-good moments against Myles Murphy in team and one-on-ones as he continues to give the coaches things to show progression as a backup swing tackle …
Vet Lucas Patrick got his first shot with the first group at right guard as Cody Ford moved to the second team …
Safety Daijahn Anthony had an opportunistic interception in the middle of the field when he caught Browning’s deep ball that went beyond wide receiver Cole Burgess …
Cornerback Josh Newton also had pick of Browning in 7-on-7 when he cut in front of wide receiver Charlie Jones on a crosser …
The loudest cheers were, of course, for quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. They didn’t disappoint. Safety Geno Stone did knock a ball away from Higgins in an preseason-game-type-mid-field collision, but Higgins came back to run a nice out route against cornerback DJ Turner II and QB Joe Burrow threw a perfect ball to the sidelines that went for about 15 yards …
Burrow also found Chase on the sidelines in classic fashion when the two conspired to beat tight bracket coverage …
Kicker Evan McPherson came into Saturday with just three missed field goals and hit his first five Saturday. He missed his last two, both wide right from 56 yards. Incumbent Cal Adomitis took the first three long snaps, rookie William Wagner the last four …
During routes on air, wide receiver Jermaine Burton made a one-handed catch on a deep post from Browning …
Still sitting out with injuries that have been deemed more on the cautious side than a serious one were defensive tackle B.J. Hill, right tackle Amarius Mims and cornerbacks Cam Taylor-Britt and Marco Wilson …
