CINCINNATI -- Beating up on your younger brother is always fun, so Zac Taylor was probably thrilled with how things unfolded Thursday during Cincinnati's joint practice with Chicago. The Bengals head coach has close ties to the Bears because his younger brother, Press Taylor, is Chicago's offensive coordinator. The Bengals completely revamped their defense this offseason, and after the starters played just one series in the first preseason game, the battle against the Bears' offense represented the first big test of Cincinnati's new-look unit, which features four new starters, including Dexter Lawrence.
If the joint practice was any indication, the Bengals need the regular season to start now because the defense looks ready to roll. Here are five takeaways from the joint practice. Although the Bengals defense had some big moments, we're going to start with Joe Burrow because he got into a fight, and anytime a QB gets into a fight, you have to start there.
If there's been one common theme around the NFL this year, it's that if you hold a joint practice, there's going to be at least one fight, and that was the case here. There weren't any brawls, but there were a few scuffles, including one involving Burrow. If there's one rule at an NFL practice, it's that you never touch the quarterback, and Dayo Odeyingbo slightly broke that rule.
The Bears defensive end got his hands on Burrow and wouldn't let go of his jersey, which caused things to get heated. Burrow wasn't happy with Odeyingbo, and he let the Bears defender know it. Burrow was asked about the scuffle after practice, and he gave an interesting two-word answer.
"Shit happens," the Bengals QB said. "That's how practice goes sometimes." Burrow did admit this was the first time since college that he got into a scuffle. "Fun to go at it a little bit," he said.
Although it was fun for Burrow, the scuffle was quickly broken up before it could turn into a full-fledged fight. Burrow's teammates were ready to go to battle for him during the scuffle, and that's what Ja'Marr Chase wants to see more of this year. "I don't care what we do, we just better f---ing protect Joe," Chase said after practice.
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