CINCINNATI — If a player spent Thursday night on the field in a Cincinnati Bengals jersey, that wasn’t a great sign for his place in the team’s plans this season. All of the projected starters on offense and defense watched from the sideline as the backups and third-stringers the Bengals need to make decisions about were given a shot at one final impression. Advertisement The impression wasn’t great in the 27-14 loss to the Colts that saw the Cincinnati offense being shut out by Indianapolis, which played its starters for about one quarter.
Still, more than a few impactful moments from the game will help shape decisions for Tuesday’s cutdown day and open up the concept of looking outside the building to fill multiple spots. Quarterbacks (2) • Starter: Joe Burrow • Backup: Jake Browning • Cut: Logan Woodside , Rocky Lombardi Thursday night impact: Nothing good. Woodside couldn’t muster any offense and turned the ball over with a fumble in the fourth quarter.
The offense was largely ineffective, and Woodside finished 16-of-21 for just 98 yards in the air. It might be time to call AJ McCarron again. Analysis: Despite a rib injury that took Browning out of the second half of camp, his spot never wavered.
Woodside never did enough to open a conversation about Browning’s position. GO DEEPER Bengals, Joe Burrow look ready for season in joint practice against Colts Running backs (3) • Starter: Chase Brown • Rotational: Zack Moss • Backup: Trayveon Williams �.