The Bengals' plans for work in Chicago this week got shuffled with news following Tuesday's practice that backup quarterback Jake Browning (rib) and punter Brad Robbins (hip) are going to miss some time.
It means quarterback Logan Woodside, who nearly pulled off last Saturday's fourth-quarter comeback over Tampa Bay, probably gets the start in Saturday's game (1 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 19) against the Bears, and rookie Rocky Lombardi will also see the field for his NFL debut at Soldier Field.
It also looks like rookie punter Ryan Rehkow is going to have Thursday's joint practice and game to himself in the punting competition after Robbins left practice when he got hurt on kickoffs Tuesday.
Quarterback Joe Burrow is not expected to play, but he will take a heavy amount of reps with the Ones during Thursday's practice at Halas Hall.
Woodside, 29, is no stranger to starting in preseason games. He went 3-0 with the Falcons and the Titans, but he's never been as hot as he was last Saturday night against the Bucs. Woodside hit seven of his first eight passes and the go-ahead touchdown from 38 yards to rookie wide receiver Jermaine Burton with 3:33 left as he attempted to bring the Bengals back in it and finished with a 137 passer rating.
He had an even better rating in a 2021 preseason start for the Titans, 139.6, in a win over the Bucs. The week before, he beat former Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron in a 23-3 win over the Falcons when he went 10-of-15 for 84 yards.
After Tuesday's practice, Woodside, a 2018 seventh-round draft pick of the Bengals, recalled he had a pretty good day in his first Paycor preseason appearance six years ago (9-of-15 for 96 yards), but he didn't have a touchdown.
"Missed it. I think it was a tight end at the goal line and I didn't throw it," Woodside said.
He was one of the last three players drafted in the Marvin Lewis Era and has returned under Bengals head coach Zac Taylor as a solid, smart journeyman who gives them stability and experience.
"I've been through a couple of preseasons now and been in the league for that long," Woodside said. "You try to keep the offense moving in the right direction. Especially if you've got guys that might not have a ton of experience, you try to help lead them, try to galvanize the group and go down and put points on the board."
Robbins, the incumbent who worked hard in the offseason, had an excellent outing Saturday night as well. He hit a 54-yarder to the Tampa Bay 10, and he hit a 60-yarder deep out of Bengals territory.
As he and Rehkow were taking kickoffs Tuesday, Robbins felt a pain in his hip. He believes the flexor is going to keep him out at least this week. It wasn't anything extensive. He said he and Rehkow "were just tapping," the kicks at about 80%.
"You have to practice it. What if something happens to Evan (McPherson)?" said Robbins of the Bengals kicker. "I warmed up really good. Was out there about half an hour early. Normal routine in the weight room. Came out, stretched, felt good. One of those freak things. I was just tapping it."
But Robbins, who put on 15 pounds and came out hitting more powerful punts this year, says he won't get frustrated.
"There's a bigger plan. You have to trust the process," Robbins said, "I may not be kicking, but I'm going to be going through all these kicks visually and making sure I'm not taking a step back and when I come back, I looking to have the same confidence and see what happens."
_Taylor says they'll "take it day-by-day," when it comes the Ja’Marr Chase situation.
_Defensive tackle B.J. Hill wasn't at practice because of the birth of a baby and is expected to re-join the club Tuesday night.
