CINCINNATI — The absence of two star receivers wasn’t a priority for Bengals coach Zac Taylor on Tuesday.
Following the crew’s first OTA observe, Taylor downplayed Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase not being current for drills. Higgins has but to signal the franchise tag the Bengals positioned on him in February. Chase has but to take part within the crew’s offseason program as effectively. He’s eligible for a brand new contract after reaching the Professional Bowl in every of his first three seasons.
Taylor harassed the voluntary nature of the crew’s exercises and stated the absences of Higgins and Chase should not set again the event of the offense.
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“[They] are nonetheless working onerous elsewhere, and so they’ll be again on the proper instances,” Taylor stated. “And the wonder is we all know these guys, we all know what they’re about and that they will be prepared and targeted when it is time to come again.”
Different notable absences included defensive sort out Sheldon Rankins and projected beginning proper sort out Trent Brown. Each gamers have been a part of the crew’s main additions throughout free company. Taylor additionally downplayed these absences when it got here to studying Cincinnati’s playbook.
“They’ve the data, so I do know that they are staying on high of it,” Taylor stated. “And once they get right here and are capable of get these reps, I do know that these two guys are vets and so they’ll be in an actual great place.”
Cincinnati is in search of to bounce again from a disappointing season. After successful the AFC North in 2021 and 2022 and making deep playoff runs in each years, together with a loss in Tremendous Bowl LVI, Cincinnati missed the playoffs in 2023 after quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist damage.
Burrow has participated within the crew’s offseason program. On Tuesday, he had veteran Trenton Irwin, rookie Jermaine Burton and second-year gamers Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones as obtainable targets.
Taylor stated he likes how Burrow has appeared.
“He is been correct,” Taylor stated. “He is been on time [with the ball]. He is throwing with nice velocity and energy.”
The Bengals will conduct OTAs by way of Thursday and once more June 3-6. The crew’s offseason program will conclude with necessary minicamp June 11-13.
