Bengals’ Carman battles for starting left guard job
Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor knows that just because a team is successful one year, doesn’t mean it automatically carries over to the next. As far as he’s concerned, the defending AFC champion Bengals are building from ground zero.
Partly for that reason, Jackson Carman will be given every opportunity to win the starting left guard job after a disappointing rookie campaign.
Carman started six games in 2021, including the AFC championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs. This year, he’ll compete with rookie Cordell Volson.
Carman said he’s committed to giving himself the best chance to earn the spot and has done so by trimming down to the weight (323 pounds) his coaching staff wants him at.
“(He’s) had a chance to see how physical it is, how fast it is, how different it is,” Taylor said.
“So the second training camp is really a big deal, not only for Jackson, but Trey Hill and D’ante and all those secondyear guys. I’m really excited to see that group take the next step here.”
Higgins, Ossai, Wilson on track to participate in training camp
Following last season, wide receiver Tee Higgins and linebacker Logan Wilson had shoulder surgeries. Defensive end Joseph Ossai, a second-year player out of Texas, injured his knee in Cincinnati’s first preseason game in 2021 and was unable to take a snap during his rookie year.
Taylor believes they are all on track to be available at the start of training camp in late July.
“Yeah, I think that’s the timeline we’re expecting,” Taylor said. “You don’t want to make a prediction (this early), but I think there’s a possibility that works out for them.”
Bengals to hold joint practices with Rams
The Bengals’ final exhibition game is against the Los Angeles Rams, a Super Bowl 56 rematch, and Taylor has confirmed his team will host the Rams for joint practices for a few days leading up to that game.
Joint practices have become popular for NFL teams over the last few years. Taylor and Los Angeles head coach Sean Mcvay are friends, having worked together in LA, and because of their relationship, both clubs agreed the practices will be beneficial.
“As we get going moving forward, (we’re) playing our starters less and less in the actual (preseason) games,” Taylor pointed out. “So, I think these joint practices allow us to control the practice, manufacture some situations you can’t always manufacture in games and get good work against a really good opponent.”