The Cincinnati Bengals elected to stand still at the NFL’s trade deadline on Tuesday.
While teams like the Ravens, Steelers and even would-be contenders like the Vikings and Dolphins made moves, the Bengals decided to stand pat amid a bevy of issues, never mind at 4-4 and 0-3 in the AFC North.
Cincinnati usually does this at the deadline, but this time felt different. One, wideout Ja’Marr Chase is out and the offense was a mess last time out.
The season-ending injury to No. 1 corner Chidobe Awuzie made it easy to suggest the team could go out and make a trade in an effort to replace him. As sensible as it sounds, the right player, trade partner and deal needed to form quickly in order for something to happen.
So the Bengals exit the deadline no better than they entered it, needing to internally figure out how to replace some of the league’s most talented players at their respective positions.
