The Indianapolis Colts decisively outperformed the Cincinnati Bengals in the closing chapter of the preseason, showcasing depth on their roster and leaving the Bengals with a stark 41-14 defeat to ponder over. WLWT reported that third-string quarterback Riley Leonard delivered a solid performance, completing 15 of 20 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, offering promising signs for the Colts' depth chart.
Meanwhile, the Bengals opted for rest over rust, benching starters including Joe Burrow and his backup, Jake Browning, giving the field to those on the roster fringes. Dayton247Now noted that Bengals coach Zac Taylor said, "I thought we got all the work done we needed to get done," despite the heavy loss, maintaining an optimistic tone regarding preparations for the regular season.
For the Bengals, injuries challenged an otherwise uneventful game, with backup safety Daijahn Anthony being one of the casualties, exiting the game with a leg injury, as detailed by WLWT. On the opposite sideline, Colts’ backup left guard Josh Sills also suffered a setback with a shoulder injury, underscoring the risks of even low-stakes preseason matches.
As the preseason chapter closes, the Bengals brass will now refocus on roster adjustments and preparations for the regular season. A clear point of interest is Jalen Rivers, the fifth-round draft choice who appears likely to start at right guard in Week 1, stepping up amidst injuries to others on the line, per Dayton247Now. Taylor emphasized Rivers' need for more playing time, indicating the young lineman will be under the microscope come regular season.
Looking back on the preseason, the Bengals coach expressed confidence in his team's health and playbook installation, but acknowledged the less-than-ideal performance, saying through Dayton247Now, "I didn't like how we finished the half, obviously. Game kind of got away from us." This sentiment was echoed in an in-depth analysis by Dayton Daily News, which also highlighted positive individual performances, particularly Shaka Heyward's strong preseason among the backups and special teams participants. The analysis noted that Heyward is pushing hard to go further in the league, regardless of if he makes the 53-man roster or not.
.jpg){kind=link}