Even Sam Hubbard, author of the greatest play in Bengals postseason history, gets butterflies on his first day in pads.
Now that it's over with after Wednesday's practice, Hubbard is ready to get back on the left edge for the Sept. 8 opener against the Patriots. Out of work since before the first preseason game with a knee injury, Hubbard says rust won't be a problem.
"That's why I wanted to get out here this week and practice," Hubbard said. "I've taken a lot of snaps here. I'm sure after the first series I'll settle right in."
How many snaps is a lot? Try 4,417, the fourth most in the NFL on the edge since Hubbard, 29, came into the league in 2018. Even though he limped through the second half of last season with an ankle injury, he still has the most tackles by a defensive end over that span with 357, two more than Christian Wilkins, according to Pro Football Reference.
As he heads into his seventh season, Hubbard figures he's right on schedule. After the Bengals practice Thursday, they have a three-day weekend before getting back to work Monday.
Not Hubbard.
"I'll be in here over the weekend rehabbing. I don't need a weekend," Hubbard said. "With that first day out of the way, I've got tomorrow, I've got the weekend, and the whole (next) week in preparation with the game plan to get ready. I'm in a really, really good spot."
CLAIMING K.J. HENRY: With edge rusher Myles Murphy (knee) out for at least the next four weeks, the Bengals turned to his former Clemson bookend when they plucked Commanders defensive end K.J. Henry off waivers before Wednesday's practice.
The 6-4, 255-pound Henry played 41% of the snaps and made three starts as a rookie last season and came up with 1.5 sacks and two passes defensed on 282 snaps.
After the Bengals drafted Murphy in the first round last year with the 28th pick, the Commanders took Henry in the fifth round. Murphy confirmed Henry is an outgoing guy, popular with the media and worthy of his degree in sports communication that he obtained in three years. He also has a master's in athletic leadership to go with the award given to the player who best represents himself, his teammates and Clemson in the media.
Henry logged five years at Clemson and played the school's most career games on the edge with 58, his last 14 coming with Murphy rushing on the other side in 2022.
"If you look at the Commanders' tape, that's what he does," Murphy said. "He's a smart, smart guy. I have no worries about him learning the playbook quickly. He's got the whole shebang. The media will have a fun time with him. He was all over the Commanders' page."
The Bengals know plenty about him since his data is fresh from last year's draft. Plus, defensive line coach Marion Hobby recruited him to Clemson and knew him for a long time even before that: Henry's dad is long-time college coach Keith Henry, now the safeties coach at North Carolina A&T.
OTHER MOVES: The Bengals are down to two running backs with Wednesday's release of Trayveon Williams to make room for Henry, so another shoe figures to drop Thursday. It could be Williams returning.
The Bengals signed a dozen of the players they cut Tuesday to the practice squad. They have four spots open and look to fill them with players they have coming in for Thursday's practice.
JA'MARR UPDATE: Although three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase didn't practice Wednesday, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor still thinks he could be ready for the opener that is basically ten days away.
"He'll be able to go. He does a really good job staying in shape," Taylor said.
As Chase deals with the talks for a contract extension, Taylor remains supportive.
"At the end of the day, Ja'Marr is a great dude who means a lot to this team," Taylor said. "We'll just continue to take it day-by-day and see what tomorrow brings."
