Bengals set to face Buccaneers at home for first preseason game

CINCINNATI- Oh. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- 48 hours remain until the Cincinnati Bengals take the field for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Bengals tested out the new turf inside Paycor Stadium during practice number 12 of Training Camp.

Bring on the Bucs

Head Coach Zac Taylor says that his team is ready to play someone other than themselves and that this game comes at the perfect time. During day 11 of camp, there was a brief scuffle during practice.

“I think our guys are playing with an edge. They’re competitive,” said Taylor. “Our first string players are tired of (playing) each other. I think we have five practices before final cuts come. Our team is in a really good position now.”

Burrow’s Day

In the final practice of the preseason’s first leg, quarterback Joe Burrow was tested by the defense several times, but had success in the redzone during full sided drills.

He connected well with his receivers and running backs during the redzone portion of the practice. DJ Turner II did intercept a deep pass from Burrow in the 11 on 11 portion of practice.

“Practice is big,” said Turner II. “It’s been good. We’re gelling as one on defense. Everybody is going in the right direction.”

The occasional mistake aside, this preseason is leaps and bounds better with a healthy signal caller from Taylor’s point of view.

“We’ve gotten a lot of good unscripted ball movement than what we’ve had in the past,” said Taylor.

Injury Trouble

Little is known about a supposed non-contact injury to wide receiver Charlie Jones after the second year player went down in the middle of practice. Jones was seen in the locker room after practice favoring his left leg and unable to put much weight on his right.

Updates will be published as soon as they become available.