CINCINNATI (104.3 The Score) — When the Bears were in the Queen City last November, they delivered a memorable 47-42 victory over the Bengals. It was a wild win that set them on a course toward the playoffs.
On Thursday morning, the Bears took the field across from Paycor Stadium in a joint practice with the Bengals. The two teams worked for two hours on three fields in a closed setting, testing their starters as they both likely plan to hold them out of Saturday’s preseason contest.
Here are the observations from Cincinnati.
Bears encounter test from Bengals
This wasn’t the same Bengals defense that was gashed last fall across the street at Paycor Stadium.
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has changed the tune for Cincinnati’s defense. He looks to be everything the Bengals hoped in making a blockbuster deal to acquire him.
Lawrence made practice challenging for third-year quarterback Caleb Williams and the Bears. There were plenty of highlights from Williams, including a pinpoint strike along the sidelines to receiver Rome Odunze and a spectacular touchdown catch from tight end Colston Loveland. But Williams also had three interceptions, including one by the 340-pound Lawrence.
“Just got to be better,” Williams said. “Whether it's myself and protecting the football or the front or wide receivers, all of us, it's a combination of all of us being able to go out there and execute. It's going to be a focus point for sure.”
Of course, a challenge is what the Bears are embracing. It’s why these joint practices are incredibly valuable.
Rather than dealing with the inherent randomness of a preseason game, the Bears and Bengals – like many teams around the league now – embraced putting their starters up against each other in a controlled environment.
The Bears mixed personnel on their starting offense, using it as an opportunity to evaluate players. Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet each had opportunities as the starting left tackle. With Kyle Monangai (knee) back in Chicago, Brittan Brown and Salvon Ahmed got chances at running back. And Kaden Davis, one of the best stories of training camp, work as a first-team wide receiver.
As for Williams, he’s judging his own personal progression by how he builds off each experience.
“I think I’ve done a good job taking the coaching,” Williams said. “Taking hard coaching, good coaching, whatever the case may be. I think that’s how I’m judging it. Just being able to go out there and execute.
“There’s going to be mistakes and things like that, but it’s being able to go back into the film room, learn from them. And then when it becomes game day, when it comes to all that we’re executing on a high clip.”
There will be plenty to learn from in this practice. It’s all a part of building for the regular season.
Defense stands tall
Bears head coach Ben Johnson was curious to see how his team’s defense would handle a test from Bengals stars Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
“We want to be able to stay attached and try to make plays on the football,” Johnson said before practice. “Our calling card a year ago was the takeaways. It would be great to get a couple takeaways today.”
The Bears recorded several takeaways on the day, including an interception by rookie safety Dillon Thieneman against Burrow. He took in a deflection and ran free along the sideline, drawing cheers from his teammates.
The Bears’ defense was stout against a Bengals offense that’s prolific when healthy. Beyond the first string, the reserve units got a chance to match up against 41-year-old Joe Flacco and 40-year-old Josh Johnson, who each boast 18 years of professional football experience.
Overall, the Bears held strong defensively against Burrow and the Bengals.
“You definitely had familiarity with just how they attacked us a little bit last year and kind of what they what they do best,” Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards said. “And obviously, they got some guys on the outside, great quarterback, really good run game, good running back. So, we knew it was going to be a really good challenge for us to see kind of where we were at.
“Our main thing we wanted to do today was just compete like every single rep. We wanted to get takeaways, we wanted to get pressure, energy, all those things. Without looking at the tape, you know there's always going to be stuff we want to clean up. But I thought we did that today. It was a lot of fun.”
Extra points
-- On the Bears’ first play offensively, Williams couldn’t handle a snap. He then stepped back on the next play and delivered the strike along the sideline to Odunze. That sequence summarized the day for the offense.
-- Bears nickelback Kyler Gordon was present along the sideline watching the action unfold. He hasn't been seen at practice throughout camp while working back from a calf injury, so it was notable to see Gordon.
-- There hasn’t been a clear winner in the left tackle competition as the Bears have hoped. Jones and Benedet mixed into that role Thursday. Jones seems to be the sure favorite. The greater question is who becomes the backup?
-- With Tyson Bagent (hamstring) remaining back in Chicago, the Bears will likely turn to veteran Case Keenum and rookie Miller Moss at quarterback Saturday. Both got the chance for enhanced work in this practice.
-- One of the best stories of this preseason has been the 27-year-old Davis, the receiver who shined again Thursday. A Northwest Missouri State product, Davis has bounced around the NFL since 2022. He has a real chance to make the 53-man roster and play a role in the offense.
-- The Bengals utilize a narrow set of goal posts to challenge the kickers. Bears kicker Cairo Santos was nearly automatic in kicking through the even tighter set of uprights.
-- It was cool hearing Burrow speak so highly of Williams after practice. It’s a sign of the respect that Williams warrants from his quarterback peers after last season. The Bears are now Williams’ team.
-- Perhaps the most important development Thursday was there was no significant injuries on either practice field.
-- One week from Thursday, the Bears will be in Nashville for a joint practice with the Titans.
Chris Emma covers the Bears and the Chicago sports scene for 104.3 The Score.
