What to Look For: Colts at Bengals

Whereas the Bengals starters will relaxation within the group’s ultimate preseason recreation towards the Indianapolis Colts, Thursday will nonetheless be a pivotal matchup for a lot of gamers trying to make a robust impression.

A seventh-round choose in 2024, heart Matt Lee has finished nothing however impress in Cincinnati’s first two preseason outings. The previous Miami Hurricane took each rep at heart final week in Chicago and didn’t permit a strain, regardless of going through the Bears starters early within the recreation. Lee will see the Colts beginning line of defense for no less than a drive as properly, however he stated Monday he appears like he matches up from a bodily standpoint. Beginning heart Ted Karras has taken discover of the rookie.

“He is a man that is finished all the precise issues sufficient to play his approach onto an NFL roster,” Karras stated after Monday’s observe. “As a 31-year-old heart with two years left on my contract, to have a man within the pipeline needs to be a aid for upstairs. As Bengals followers, I would be thrilled to have a man like that within the pipeline.”

Thursday provides Lee another alternative to place a robust displaying on tape as he makes an attempt to carve out a job for himself on the 53-man roster.

As a group, the Bengals have the fourth-highest pass-blocking grade (79.1) within the league this preseason, per Professional Soccer Focus. They’ve additionally solely allowed one sack in two video games.

Kicker Evan McPherson is locked in till 2027 after signing a three-year contract extension earlier this week. As incumbent punter Brad Robbins offers with a hip flexor damage, Ryan Rehkow, a rookie from BYU, slides in as punter and placeholder for McPherson’s kicks. Rehkow has logged 9 punt makes an attempt to this point within the preseason, with an extended of 59 yards, a median NET of 41.3 yards and one punt contained in the 20.

Rehkow additionally has to regulate to holding the ball with one finger, McPherson’s desire, as a substitute of two like he did at BYU.