Cincinnati Bengals Defense Wins the Day Ahead of Joint Practice With Bears

The Cincinnati Bengals continued training camp at the Kettering Health Practice Fields on the morning of Aug. 18, and it was a strong performance for the defense. Players all around the field made plays on the defensive side of the ball and took it to the star-powered offense.

With a joint practice with the Bears looming Thursday and the second preseason game on Saturday, the Bengals' final practice showcased Al Golden's defense.

The defense made the offense's day frustrating, consistently finding ways to disrupt plays and create pressure throughout the morning. The performance was especially notable considering the Bengals were without starting safety Bryan Cook and cornerback Dax Hill, giving other players an opportunity to step up ahead of Thursday's joint practice with Chicago.

The Bengals' blitz packages were a major factor throughout the practice, as the defense brought pressure early and often. The consistent aggression made it difficult for the offense to establish a rhythm and allowed the defensive front to make several plays behind the line of scrimmage.

Boye Mafe was one of the defensive players who stood out, blowing up a run play in the backfield and showcasing the explosiveness that the Bengals hoped he would bring when they added him to the defensive front. Mafe's ability to generate pressure and make plays against the run could be an important part of the defense as the regular season approaches.

The secondary also made its presence felt. Josh Newton came away with an interception, giving the defense another takeaway during a practice in which the unit consistently challenged the offense. Newton's play added to an encouraging day for a secondary that was already operating without two of its expected contributors at safety.

Tacario Davis also appeared to record an interception during the session, but the play was ultimately nullified by a penalty. Even though the turnover did not count, Davis continued to show the aggressive playmaking ability that has made him an intriguing player to watch during training camp.

Overall, it was a strong day for Al Golden's defense. The unit generated pressure, stopped the run and created opportunities for turnovers while making things difficult for the offense from the start of practice.

The Bengals will now turn their attention toward Chicago, as they will hold a joint practice with the Bears on Thursday. With another preseason game against Chicago scheduled for Saturday, Tuesday's performance gave the defense plenty of momentum heading into an important stretch of the preseason.