Cincinnati Bengals Preseason: Players to watch vs Chiefs

Taking a quick look at a few Cincinnati Bengals to watch during their preseason matchup versus the Kansas City Chiefs.

The first week of the preseason gave us our initial look at the players on this year’s Cincinnati Bengals. While the Bengals did eventually win the contest, 23-12, the score isn’t what matters here. Rather, it is the performances within it by those players fighting for roles and roster spots which is important.

Last week, the play of guys like Jeff Driskel, Joe Mixon, and Tra Carson was what stood out. Who should we be watching this week?

Here are a few names to keep an eye on in Week 2 of the NFL Preseason as they take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.

Trey Hopkins

The Cincinnati offensive line has been the clearest weakness on the team for at least a year now.

That was true during 2016, when Andy Dalton was sacked 41 times (seventh most in the NFL). This weakness became even more pronounced in the offseason, with their two best linemen (Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler) leaving for greener ($) pastures.

With those personnel losses and little done in elsewhere to address the position group, this line has seemingly just gotten worse. Andre Smith was brought back for cheap after an injury-plagued time with the Vikings, and J.J. Dielman was a fifth-round selection in this past draft.

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But outside of them this is a unit hoping to find a bundle of diamonds in the rough to cobble together a workable blocking group. With practically every spot in the lineup in flux, anybody in tow could seemingly step into a role with a few good showings. Hopkins appears to be doing just that.

According to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, Hopkins has been the guy Cincinnati has turned to whenever their first plan at guard — converting Smith there — has been unavailable to them (whether due to injury, rest, or lining up elsewhere). This week in particular, he’s been working as the first-team right guard while Smith has taken up second-team right tackle snaps (per ESPN).

Should he play well this week (whether that be with first team, second team, or both), he should put himself firmly in the driver’s seat for that starting right guard role throughout the rest of the preseason and into the regular season.

John Ross

Ross was unable to participate in the first week of preseason action (or do much at all in the offseason, really), but he’s finally gotten himself on the practice field this week and should be a good bet to get a decent number of snaps against Kansas City.

His selection in the early first round of the past draft banks on his pure speed (he set the Combine record with his 40-yard dash time) being a monumental asset which could open the offense on multiple fronts. That speed, if utilized properly, should force defenses to focus coverages on him. In turn, that can give less over-the-top help against A.J. Green, allow less stacking against the running game, and more space in the middle of the field for Tyler Eifert and the slot receivers. This game versus Kansas City is the first chance to see just how much of an impact his presence can make.

His contributions may not be just as a receiver, either: he’s been seeing some time with the punt return unit in practice. Though it hasn’t been too promising as of yet, his blinding speed could provide the sort of game-changing ability the unit hasn’t really ever had at their disposal.

The preseason is the perfect time to try out new additions in multiple roles. With Ross finally healthy enough for contact, Cincinnati shouldn’t waste any time in testing his skills in game action.

Chris Smith

Against Tampa Bay, some of the best individual work during the contest was accomplished by a handful of Cincinnati’s young pass rushers.

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According to Pro Football Focus, the top three overall grades handed out during that game for either team were all Bengals: Jordan Willis, Carl Lawson, and Smith. Once they were drafted, Willis and Lawson always appeared to be part of the future at defensive end here in Cincinnati. Smith is a much different case, however.

Back in April, Cincinnati traded a conditional 2018 seventh-round selection to acquire Smith from Jacksonville. While he was there, he did little to stand out. In three years he’s garnered just 20 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.

Part of that allegedly poor showing probably revolves more around a lack of opportunity (he only got 311 snaps total in those three years, and had bigger-name acquisitions above him in the pecking order) on a flailing team (you’ve seen Jacksonville’s lack of success in recent years) than anything inherently wrong with Smith. And we may already be seeing what can happen if he’s given a decent chance to prove himself.

Remember how I said it was Smith, Willis, and Lawson who had the best PFF grades from the Tampa Bay game? Smith’s was actually the highest of the three. His 89.4 grade was over eight points better than either Willis or Lawson, with six QB pressures playing a key role in his impact.

One strong preseason game cements nothing, however. Cincinnati is notorious for heavily favoring their draft picks and steadfastly sticking with players in their usual roles even after they lose their effectiveness (think: Rey Maualuga or Domata Peko the past couple seasons).

Willis and Lawson are locks for the roster. Carlos Dunlap is still a star. Michael Johnson, Will Clarke, and Wallace Gilberry all have lost considerable effectiveness (if they ever had it), but there are few signs of those long-term names being removed from the equation. Smith has to not only beat out fellow young players Ryan Brown and Marcus Hardison (players who have spent more time with the team, which definitely matters in this case), but he must provide enough glimpses of proficiency to be able to usurp one of the currently-entrenched veterans above them.

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The odds probably aren’t great for Smith making the roster — at least if Cincinnati follows their usual trend with long-term Bengals — but stacking another strong showing off the edge here would go a long way towards making Cincinnati at least consider taking a chance on him over one of their ingrained veteran options.

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