Bengals Make Right Decision, Not Playing Starters Against Commanders

Only one offensive starter played in the preseason.

CINCINNATI — Bengals head coach Zac Taylor isn't playing any of his starters on Saturday night in Washington. 

Is he making the right decision?

Shouldn't the coaching staff want the first-team offensive line to play together? Wouldn't it be good for Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd and Irv Smith Jr. to get reps in a game situation? 

In a perfect world, all of those guys would suit up for at least one drive, work with Joe Burrow, go score a touchdown and continue to build their chemistry ahead of the regular season opener in Cleveland. 

But, the world isn't perfect. 

Burrow isn't playing tonight and none of the other starters should either. 

Why put Chase, Higgins, Orlando Brown Jr. or any of their other key players out there without Burrow? 

The star quarterback is making good progress after suffering a calf strain on July 27, but he still hasn't practiced with the team. 

Can you imagine if Chase suffered an injury while running a slant because the ball is a bit behind him? 

There's reason to risk it in a game situation, with players on the Commanders roster fighting for their NFL lives. 

There will be plenty of people that read the headline of this article and react to it because the Bengals started 0-2, 2-3 and 4-4 last season. 

I can see the comments now: "Their slow start cost them the No. 1 seed in the AFC." 

It's a fair point about last year, but Burrow, La'el Collins and Alex Cappa were all dealing with injuries/ailments a year ago. 

Burrow was pounding protein shakes in hopes of getting up to a suitable weight/strength to play in the opener. Cappa had core muscle surgery and Collins was nursing back and ankle issues. 

This year's offensive line has played together. Four of the five guys return and yes, Jonah Williams switched sides, but he's passed every test with flying colors, including the first drive of last week's preseason matchup with the Falcons. 

There doesn't seem to be any concern about Burrow's recovery either and all signs point to him being ready for the start of the season. 

"He looks great," Taylor said earlier this week. "Physically just walking around he looks probably as good as he's looked to this point. And so that's a positive and we'll just go from there."

Burrow is throwing regularly, working out and there doesn't appear to be any concern in the building about him being ready for Week 1. 

And for those thinking Chase needs preseason reps, he played nearly 100 snaps last year in Week 1 against the Steelers. 

Throw in the fact that Lou Anarumo's defensive starters played in Atlanta and the Bengals are well ahead of where they were a year ago. 

If the Bengals get off to a slow start this season, it isn't going to be because they didn't play their offensive starters for one drive in an exhibition game. 

Starting the year in Cleveland and hosting Baltimore the following week is a tough start from a schedule standpoint, but Taylor is making the right decision to sit his guys with the regular season opener just 15 days away. 

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