The Cincinnati Bengals sit on a 3-3 record at the bye and don’t face an easy task when they get off break, considering the encounter with the San Francisco 49ers on the schedule.
For now, though, the focus can shift to how the team might improve during the bye week — which means conversations about the trade deadline.
The health of star players like Tee Higgins comes up, too.
And as is tradition early in the week all year, those controversial little things called power rankings come up, too.
Here’s a look at the must-know Bengals news, notes and quotes for October 18.
Tee Higgins looking for a reset
To say Tee Higgins’ start to the season has been a disappointment would be an understatement. Yet he toughed through an injury to play against the Seahawks and now gets a week off to rest that fractured rib and he’s quite open about how he’s expecting a big second half of the season.
Why Cody Ford came in for Orlando Brown Jr.
When the Bengals signed Cody Ford last summer, it seemed like it was a smaller move to reinforce right tackle depth and nothing more. Yet when Orlando Brown Jr. went down against the Seahawks, it was Ford coming on the field. Now coaches have explained why.
Ryan Shazier comments on Bengals
Former Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier explains why he wanted to part of the Bengals taking him in the 2014 NFL draft.
Bengals jump from 18th to 12th -- ESPN
The Bengals make a nice jump in the latest effort from ESPN, though the writeup does spotlight well where the team needs to improve after the break: “The passing offense is the least explosive in the NFL, ranked 32nd in yards per attempt (4.8). As whole, the Bengals are 29th in points per drive (1.23) and lead the league in three-and-out percentage (29.9%). “
Bengals jump nine spots -- The Athletic
The Bengals go up nine spots in this one and regain footing as a top 10 team, with some spotlight going to Joe Burrow’s return to form: “In the last two weeks, he is second in completion percentage (74.1) and eighth in yards per game (251). Ja’Marr Chase reached 3,057 career receiving yards Sunday, becoming the fifth player in league history to top 3,000 yards in 35 or fewer games.”
Bengals take small jump elsewhere -- NFL.com
The Bengals move just two spots in this one, with a hard dose of reality concerning the team’s reliance on the defense: “This D has enjoyed its share of red-zone heroics in recent years — with critical plays from Germaine Pratt to Sam Hubbard to Vonn Bell and on — and that group added some new contributors as it held Seattle to 10 points on five red-zone trips. Cincinnati might have limped to the bye at 3-3, but getting to this point at .500 is admirable.”
Another eight spot jump in rankings -- CBS Sports
The Bengals sit just outside of the top 10 in these rankings, sitting just below the Browns, but above the Rams and Seahawks, which makes sense: “They head into their bye week at 3-3, which is a good sign after their bad start. Joe Burrow now gets an important week to get healthier.”
