Bengals Backups Get Long Look In Loss To Bears

CHICAGO – The Bengals got a long look at their backups Saturday at Soldier Field during a soggy preseason game, while the Bears rolled out their starters and took a 27-3 victory.

With their starters on the sidelines and their reserves negotiating a drenched field, the Bengals turn to Thursday’s preseason finale against the Colts at Paycor Stadium, which will also feature Tuesday’s joint practice between the two teams.

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, the 2024 NFL Draft’s overall No. 1 pick, spiced his home debut with a seven-yard scrambling touchdown for a 10-0 lead late in the first half, but the Bengals’ second defense didn’t give him much.

The Bengals’ only starters who took the field Saturday were the two vying for the spot opposite No. 1 cover cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt. Dax Hill and DJ Turner had their hands full against Williams and the Bears’ fleet of receivers, but that second defense showed up well against the Bears’ Ones.

They opened the game with three three-and-outs. Backup slot cornerback Jalen Davis made two big plays early: a pass defensed on perennial Pro Bowler Keenan Allen and a third-down stop on a dump pass over the middle to tight end Gerald Everett.

Rookie cornerback Josh Newton working in the slot stopped the third series on third-and-two when he got his hand on a slant to 1,300-yard receiver DJ Moore.

At that point, Hill was done after two series while Turner worked the third.

They were both out for the fourth series when the Bears finally got their first first down three minutes into the second quarter: They had to resort to a 16-yard end-around by rookie wide receiver Rome Oduzne when the first-round pick jetted away from rookie linebacker Maema Njongmeta.

Njongmeta, who led the team with 10 tackles last Saturday, had another productive effort. He had eight more tackles in the first three quarters.

Williams then finally made a big play, but it came courtesy of a penalty when Newton was called for pass interference wide receiver Tyler Scott’s 43-yard route down the middle of the field. That put the ball at the Bengals 15, but the defense rebounded with rookie tackle Kris Jenkins Jr.’s sack and tackle Zach Carter’s stop of a short pass to force a field goal.

Williams got his touchdown in the last two minutes of the half and flashed the athleticism that won the Heisman Trophy. The right-hander rolled left and threw a dime to Odunze running with Newton for 45 yards.

Then on third down from the Bengals 7, he escaped two defenders in the backfield and rolled down the right sideline for a touchdown. Williams finished six-of -3 for 75 yards and 64.6 passer rating.

Evan McPherson’s first kick as a $16.5-million man was good from 54 yards on the last play of the half to cut the Bears lead to 10-3.

A strong kick return by rookie wide receiver Jermaine Burton, this one for 29 yards on a kickoff with 1:26 left in the half, allowed quarterback Logan Woodside to drive for the points. Woodside finished the half 15 of 20 for 119 yards and saw many of his drives hurt by penalties. The Bengals had six for 83 yards in the half, three on third down.

With punt returner Charlie Jones (knee) improving but not playing Saturday and kick returner Chris Evans (knee) out for the year, Burton did both in the first half and showed some pop. Along with the 29-yard kick return, he had a 24-yard punt return negated by penalty.

Penalties plagued the Bengals. As they navigate the new kickoff rule, they were called for holding on the first three kickoffs of the second half.