Bengals head coach Zac Taylor didn't plan to use his starters in Saturday's preseason finale against the Colts at Paycor Stadium, but there could be some guys out there who started this week in practice.
One guy to keep an eye on is rookie offensive lineman Jalen Rivers, the fifth-round pick out of the University of Miami who pleased the powers-that-be at guard and tackle in training camp.
"I love his mindset. I love his attention to detail. He's got all the traits and mindset that we're looking for," Taylor said earlier this week. "I think that he's getting more and more comfortable in that role as he's played more guard for us."
With starter Lucas Patrick and backup Cody Ford out day-to-day, Rivers finished at right guard with the Ones in Monday night's win in Washington and then took snaps with the starters in practice.
Rivers, who opened camp at backup left tackle, is expected to get the go Saturday so he can get more snaps at right guard. He could be the only draft pick who plays Saturday.
Second- and third-rounders Demetrius Knight Jr., are starters, and first- and fourth-rounders Shemar Stewart and Barrett Carter are regulars. Sixth-round running back Tahj Brooks could play, but he looks to have made the club and they need to give running backs like Kendall Milton and Gary Brightwell more carries as they evaluate the final roster spots and practice squad for the Tuesday cutdown to 53 players from 90.
LB ROOM
One of the big spots to watch Saturday is linebackers. There's a big-time roster scrum for the fifth and last roster spot among incumbent Maema Njongmeta, veteran Bengals practice-squadder Shaka Heyward, and vet free-agent Joe Giles-Harris, working on his fourth NFL team since he came out of Duke undrafted in 2019.
Giles-Harris was a captain Monday night. Heyward is a captain Saturday. Njongmeta always grades highly in the final stats and Pro Football Focus rankings. And they'll get plenty of work, along with former Colt Craig Young, a college free agent Indy cut last season, as the only four backers expected to play Saturday.
SLANTS AND SCREENS
The long-snapper battle between three-year incumbent Cal Adomitis and college free agent William Wagner looks to be pretty much dead even heading into Saturday …
Rookie center Seth McLaughlin, ESPN's highest-rated undrafted player before the Bengals signed him, has made rapid progress from the torn Achilles' that took him out of the back half of Ohio State's national title run. But is it enough to make the club?
He took his first five snaps Monday night, and two were kneel-downs. Incumbent backup center Matt Lee has also been hurt this preseason, and he makes his debut Saturday, when he's expected to get the bulk of the snaps…
Moments before Saturday's kickoff, Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo visited with his successor, Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden. Golden was Anarumo's linebackers coach for two of his six seasons in Cincinnati....
Vets like Logan Wilson and B.J. Hill also checked in with Anarumo ...
Also not expected to dress was the sensation of the week, wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley, off his two-touchdown game in Washington, as well as the Nos. 3 and 4 receivers Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Joness. Wide receiver Jermaine Burton gets the start after missing Monday's game ...
