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NFL teams that go head-to-head under training camp practice is relatively common. Cincinnati Bengals is one of only three teams that have decided not to keep common practice this year.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor believes there is a better way to get his players ready for the season. The coach prefers to see some of his projected starters – and even star players – take reps in preseason games.
Pro Bowl Quarterback Joe Burrow and Star Wide Recipients Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins played in Bengals’ Forsønen opener against Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. Taylor argued that intrasquad competition is more advantageous than common practice.
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Cincinnati Bengal’s main coach Zac Taylor during a game against Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore 7 November 2024. (Albert Cesare/The Enquirer/USA Today Network via Imag images)
“I am grateful this year that we are not doing it (common practice),” Taylor told journalists. “It’s really good for us to continue putting some installation things in and fine -tuning some things, as opposed to locking into X opponents, which you know we will spend three days preparing and practicing and reviewing.”
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Taylor said that Bengals will have some competition in scimmage style between the offense and the defense under six practices leading up to the team’s next matchup for the forecast.
Zac Taylor, head coach of Cincinnati Bengals, against the Tennessee Titans under an AFC Divisional Playoff game at Nissan Stadium January 22, 2022, in Nashville. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
“We just get to spend it on ourselves. And I think it’s really necessary right now for this group. That’s how this camp hit us this year without practice against anyone else, just focusing on (ourselves). I’m excited about it.”
Cincinnati Bengals -coach Zac Taylor looks at a game from the sidelines in the first half against Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore 16 November 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Taylor said it will be another important week for Bengals’ offensive line competition. Lucas Patrick and Cody Ford have competed in the right guard position, and the Bengals have mixed in various offensive liners in the second unit all summer.
“(It’s) very open,” Taylor said. “I think there’s nothing in stone right now. There are still a lot of options. There are eight true practices and two games, so we will use each of them to get all the information we can out of it.”
The Bengales open the regular season 7 September against Cleveland Browns.
