As expected, tensions flared at Cincinnati Bengals training camp on the first day of padded practices.
The only major scuffle occurred between second-round rookie Jackson Carman and veteran defensive tackle Josh Tupou after several interactions throughout the day.
Paul Dehner Jr. and Jay Morrison of The Atheltic explained:
“One of the staples of any training camp is a dustup on the first day in pads. It came late in Tuesday’s practice with Carman getting into it with defensive tackle Josh Tupou. Carman, whose frustrations likely run deeper than Tuesday’s reps due to his demoted standing on the depth chart, took a swing at Tupou that missed.”
Well before the fight, Carman had gone close to viral on Bengals twitter for popping Tupou’s helmet off during a drill. Morrison caught that on video:
As for the Jackson Carman-Josh Tupou dustup at the end of the day, the tension might have started when those two squared off earlier in practice in this one-on-one drill. #Bengals pic.twitter.com/POtnB1wfim
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonATH) August 4, 2021
No word on official reasons for the fight. We’re hesitant to even call it that, but a punch was thrown. Even so, it pales in comparison to some of the fights around the league that unfolded Tuesday.
Both guys are hungry, which works as well as any explanation. Carman wants a starting job after sitting behind veterans for the first week of camp and Tupou has to fight for his roster life after missing last year due to opt-out.
