While B.J. Hill needled good friend Dexter Lawrence, fellow starting defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins believes his return can help the Bengals defense rebound in Sunday Night Football (8:20-Cincinnat's Channel 5) against the Giants in New York.
"As a competitor, I feel like watching from the sidelines I'm just seeing so many opportunities where I feel like my presence could be felt in those moments and help this team right the ship," said Rankins, who has played six healthy quarters this season.
Both Hill and Rankins suffered hamstring injuries in the second week of the season in Kansas City and have played just five quarters together. Hill came back last week and offered a spark with four pressures as the Bengals' second highest-graded pass rusher via Pro Football Focus on 53 snaps right off the injured list.
At the moment, Hill seems to be joking long distance with Lawrence, the Giants' Pro Bowl nose tackle with six sacks already.
"On sight when I see him on the field. Pregame. He better be ready," said Hill, who couldn't hide a smile. We just have a little beef."
Hill is pretty sure Lawrence is the only one left from the Giants D-line room he joined when New York drafted him in the third round of the 2018 draft. Lawrence arrived the next year as a first-rounder and has since become an NFL force while guys like Hill, Dalvin Tomlinson and Leonard Williams moved on.
And, it seemed, Hill remained friends with Lawrence. But Hill wouldn't elaborate on the "feud," that appears to be a harmless needle.
"I've got a beef with him. We've got a beef," said Hill, who would allow only a smile.
What's no joke is that the Giants traded Hill to the Bengals two weeks before the 2021 opener for 2018 first-round pick Billy Price, and his career and the Bengals took off.
Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who spent Hill's rookie season as the Giants secondary coach, high-fived the Bengals scouts when the deal was done, realizing he had secured a solid rotational tackle who is great in the locker room.
He's been better than that. In 2021, he matched his rookie sack total of 5.5 and made one of the most memorable plays of the year in the AFC title game when a Vonn Bell blitz confused Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Hill plucked a pass out of the air at the Chiefs 27 to set up the tying touchdown on the way to the Super Bowl.
Since then, Hill has earned a second contract, has racked up 13 sacks in 52 games as a Bengal compared to 7.5 in 48 games with the Giants, and is an established locker-room leader. He admits his 101st NFL game means something a little extra and vividly recalls the basket Giants owner John Mara sent when one of his children was born.
"A lot like here. Great family," Hill said. "I'm looking forward to going back and playing. It's special."
He smiles and just won't budge on Lawrence.
"A beef," Hill said.
But he did allow, "He's a heck of a player. One of the best D-tackles in the league. Can do it all. … He's one of these defensive tackles hard to control … I think we've got a good game plan."
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor feels a lot better Hill is back and Rankins is coming back after going full for the first time Friday since the injury.
"(Hill) is a big source of energy for us leadership- wise," Taylor said after Friday's practice. "Just having him back out there brings a jolt to everybody. He plays really hard. Smart player. Just having good, smart defensive linemen. Starters. Now that they're all back. They're all very aware. That's impactful."
Rankins, a nine-year vet who has played in seven playoff games, has 26.5 career sacks and says he can also help in the run.
"I felt like I was just getting into a rhythm in Kansas City and getting settled in. I'm looking forward to getting back to that and picking up where I left off," said Rankins after Friday's practice. "I'm feeling good. Healthy. I look at certain situations and see where I can step in and help us. Getting (the quarterback) off the spot, coming up with the sack, making the tackle in the backfield, whatever it is."
Rankins originally hurt his hamstring in the third quarter in Kansas City, but came back before he had to leave for good in the fourth. With Hill leaving earlier in K.C., none of their top four tackles on the offseason blueprint were available to finish the game. That left them with only rookie Kris Jenkins Jr. the next week, and Jenkins had a club on his surgically-repaired thumb.
Now Hill and Rankins are back, and it's the first time Rankins plays with the second-rounder Jenkins and the third-rounder McKinnley Jackson. Jackson is looking for more snaps after he took nine in last week's NFL debut coming off a knee injury suffered Aug. 8.
Taylor believes the return of his front men is tied to a rejuvenated defense.
"Huge part. As big as anything," Taylor said. "(Rankins) can win one-one-ones, just affect the pocket to help out the ends as well. And he's good against the run."
Rankins, their biggest free agent this offseason, realizes he's a big piece of their plan up front, as well as the selection of Jenkins and Jackson on the second day of the draft.
"We haven't had our four (regulars) together yet. I get that's the way the NFL works sometimes," Rankins said. "We feel like when we've got our guys and we're operating on all cylinders, we can be really special. We look forward to putting that on display on Sunday Night Football. (The offense) is rolling right now. It's on us to uphold our end and doing it the rest of the way."
IRON MIKE
Also returning is slot cornerback Mike Hilton after he missed last Sunday with a knee injury. It's only the third game he's missed in his fourth season with the Bengals, and even then they had to wrestle him out of that. He got hurt the week before on the first series in Carolina and ended up playing about 40 more snaps after he briefly exited.
"Adrenaline," Hilton said.
Hilton went full all three days of practice this week, but disregard that "questionable," next to his name. He left no question when he called a player-only defensive meeting Wednesday. He asked Anarumo to give him the floor for about five minutes after the full meeting.
"I went after them. I included myself. I just said what was on my mind and what we needed to get back on track," said Hilton after Friday's practice. "Tackling has been a big issue over the last couple of years. When we tackle well, we win games. And just keep guys out of the end zone. Giving up 30 points a game is not what we want, especially when the offense is rolling like they are."
SLANTS AND SCREENS
Running backs Chase Brown (quad) and Zack Moss (foot) missed time this week, but Taylor said they're good to go. Moss went full Friday and Brown went limited for the second straight day …
So, too are tight end Mike Gesicki (hamstring) and edge Joseph Ossai (shoulder) after they went full Friday …
It looks like cornerback D.J. Ivey (knee) is going to wait at least another week to come off injured reserve. Even though he went full all week, he's doubtful. That sounds like another practice squad elevation for slot cornerback Jalen Davis …
That LSU wide receiver showdown between the Bengals' Ja’Marr Chase and Giants rookie Malik Nabers won't happen. Nabers has been ruled out for the second straight game with a concussion …
