Posted on Aug 15
Two Bengals Players Suffer Injuries During Joint Practice, Team Evaluating Depth
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Bengals players suffer serious injuries during joint practice with Bears
Why it matters: Injuries during preseason practices are always a cause for concern, and the Bengals now face potential depth issues on their offensive line.
Two Cincinnati Bengals players, reserve running back Chris Evans and reserve offensive tackle D'Ante Smith, suffered significant injuries during a joint practice with the Chicago Bears at Halas Hall.
- Evans injured his right leg while covering a kickoff and had to be carted off the field with an air cast.
- Smith went down with an injury to his left leg and also required an air cast.
What's new: Bengals coach Zac Taylor did not witness the injuries and had no updates on the players' conditions.
- The practice took place in a steady downpour, but Taylor disagreed that the injuries were field-related.
Yes, but: The Bengals' depth along the offensive line had already been affected prior to these injuries.
- Rookie Amarius Mims suffered a strained pectoral muscle, and veteran Trent Brown is dealing with back tightness.
What to watch: The Bengals will need to evaluate their depth at offensive tackle following the injuries.
- It remains to be seen how long Evans and Smith will be sidelined and if the team will need to make roster adjustments accordingly.
Zac Taylor on the injuries: "Certainly, feel for them and we'll be there for them. I don't know what the outcome is yet, but it certainly was tough to watch."
Matt Eberflus on the injuries: "It's very unfortunate, and you feel bad for those particular players that had those injuries. We had a plan in place for the rain if we had the lightning. If we have an extended thing for injury, we could always combine the fields and make them one, as we would've done with the [Walter Payton Center] if we had to take it inside. That's where we are."
The bottom line: Injuries during joint practices can have a significant impact on teams as they prepare for the upcoming season.
- The Bengals will need to regroup, assess their options, and ensure that necessary adjustments are made to maintain a strong offensive line.