Bengals Camp Heats Up: Scuffle Over Joe Burrow, Defense Dominates | In The Trenches

In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, dives deep into the heart of Cincinnati Bengals training camp as the team powers through the grueling "dog days" of summer. Legendary Bengals offensive lineman and broadcaster Dave Lapham joins Dave Berk to break down a practice filled with intensity, standout performances, and a scuffle that put the entire team on notice.

As the Bengals gear up for their second preseason matchup against the Washington Commanders on Monday night, the competition on the practice field has hit a fever pitch. Lapham was on hand for a session where the defense emphatically announced its presence, with veteran center Ted Karras admitting, "The D kicked our ass." This sentiment echoed throughout a practice where the defensive front consistently won its battles.

A major catalyst for the defensive dominance has been the arrival of defensive tackle T.J. Slaton. A former fifth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers, Slaton has been a disruptive force since joining Cincinnati. Lapham notes that Slaton was a "huge factor" and "very disruptive" on a snap-by-snap basis. His performance is a welcome sight for a Bengals team looking to bolster its interior defensive line. Slaton's connection with new defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery, who coached him in Green Bay, appears to be paying early dividends for the Bengals. Lapham emphasizes that Slaton is not just making plays but is also bringing a veteran presence and leadership to the defensive unit.

The intensity of camp boiled over when rookie defensive end Shamar Stewart, after being knocked off balance, made contact with quarterback Joe Burrow, sending him to the ground. While the contact appeared unintentional, the offensive line immediately responded, with guard Lucas Patrick getting into a scuffle with the rookie. Karras reinforced the offensive line's protective mentality to reporters after practice, stating, "Gotta protect No. 9... that's all of our hopes and dreams right there." Lapham explains that these moments, while tense, are a natural result of the competitive fire that builds during camp as players tire of hitting the same opponents day after day.

Despite the incident, Lapham sees immense potential in Stewart. The first-round pick from Texas A&M, who had a lengthy holdout before signing his rookie contract, is starting to flash the talent that made him a top prospect. With Myles Murphy sitting out of practice, Stewart has been given more reps and is making the most of the opportunity to get acclimated after his missed time. Lapham believes Stewart has the chance to have a "big rookie year" and that his athleticism is evident.

The conversation also touches on the "hold-in" trend across the NFL, with players like Trey Hendrickson, Cameron Heyward, and Micah Parsons all seeking new contracts while still being present with their teams. Lapham provides his perspective on these situations, noting that while it's a business, the ideal scenario is to have these key players fully participating to build chemistry and get into football shape. He points out that while these players are in meetings, they are missing out on the physical conditioning that only comes from on-field reps.

As the Bengals look ahead to their Monday night game against the Commanders, Lapham stresses the importance of correcting the mistakes made in the first preseason game. The key to preseason development is showing improvement and eliminating mental errors like false starts and illegal formations. With a few extra days of practice leading up to the game, the Bengals have a prime opportunity to refine their execution and continue building a roster capable of making a deep playoff run.

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