Former Patriots right tackle Trent Brown makes his ninth Opening Day start in his Bengals debut against his old friends from New England Sunday (1 p.m.-Cincinnati's Local 12), while transplanted safety Dax Hill makes his first one at cornerback when the NFL season starts at Paycor Stadium.
Head coach Zac Taylor made the call after Monday's practice and said he won't be sure if rookie right tackle Amarius Mims can back up Brown against the Patriots until later in the week as Mims continues to deal with a shoulder injury. Taylor also said DJ Turner, last year's starting cornerback opposite Cam Taylor-Britt, is going to get his shot.
"It was a great battle. It wasn't a guy failed so the other one is the starter," Taylor said. "It was two guys I really felt like getting the best out of each other. For Dax to be able to assume that responsibility I think is good. It doesn't mean DJ is not playing, (or) that there is not roles we have for these other guys. It's a long season so guys have to be ready for their opportunity to come."
Mims, the first-round pick from Georgia, came into training camp bidding to become the first Bengals rookie to start an opener at tackle since Pro Football Hall of Famer Antony Munoz lined up at left tackle in the 1980 opener. His universally acclaimed camp got cut short when he suffered the injury in the Aug. 10 preseason opener.
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
The Bengals voted for captains Monday, and no-brainers were quarterback Joe Burrow, safety Vonn Bell, left end Sam Hubbard and center Ted Karras.
Three of the others have been tapped as captains for the first time in the NFL but are already serving as leaders on their units.
Linebacker Germaine Pratt, along with linebacker Logan Wilson, directs traffic in the middle of the field. When left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. arrived in free agency last year, he brought a Super Bowl ring and the experience of blocking for two MVPs. With more than 1,000 snaps in the kicking game, linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither is their most experienced special-teamer.
Finally, kicker Evan McPherson was named a captain for the first time since he captained the Fort Payne High School soccer team as a senior.
"You wondered where the special teams' captainship would go. I think he's confident, and the guys have confidence in him," Taylor said. "That's leadership. That's quiet leadership.
"Evan's not going sit up there and yell and scream at guys, but I think in its own way, that's leadership. They are great at their position, they take responsibility for everything that's on their plate. As a kicker in his case. And lead by example. When guys trust that, they've got to do their jobs. That's just a quiet form of leadership there."
Pratt has been making noise ever since he arrived as a third-round pick in 2019. From a guy who concentrates on making turnovers while generating two of the most famous in franchise history (the interception inside the 5 to end the 2021 Wild Card Game and the next year's forced fourth-quarter fumble from tight end Travis Kelce that led to a December win over the Chiefs ), to a vocal leader who knows the defense inside-and-out.
"Most people in the world are followers. You want to be a leader, lead guys, and see guys improve each and every year," Pratt said. "I've been here six years. Most people know they can talk to me about football. I've always been a guy to talk about football with my IQ. Now I'm getting represented world-wide."
It's a revered role no matter when you get it.
"Everybody can be a captain, but they don't have a C," Pratt said.
BIG O GETS A C
Hard to believe. Brown has never been a captain in the NFL. It's about the only thing he hasn't done because he's also been to four Pro Bowls and it meant enough to him that he invoked his father Monday, Orlando Brown Sr., the late right tackle of the turn-of-the-century Ravens.
"It's something my father always spoke to me about. Being this kind of a pro," Brown said. "I'm appreciative of my teammates and honored they would vote for me. That's football. Being accountable and that's what Zac tells us all the time. That's what being a Bengal is."
NO WORDS FOR MONEY MAC
McPherson has kicked the Bengals to an AFC North title and a Super Bowl berth on last-play field goals. But on Monday he admitted, "I'm a little speechless," after being named captain.
"It's nice to know everybody has a certain amount of respect and trust in you," McPherson said. "I'm not sure how they choose, but I feel like the more you play … I'm not the most vested guy in the special teams room. But I'm getting there."
He sure is. The fifth-year linebacker tandem of Davis-Gaither and Joe Bachie, along with fifth-year tight end Tanner Hudson, sixth-year tight end Drew Sample and fifth-year wide receiver Trenton Irwin are the only ones his senior.
McPherson says he'll be the same guy who has quietly never missed in 19 postseason field-goal attempts.
"Just keep trying to win games and just go be me with a C on my chest," McPherson said. "That will be pretty cool."
SLANTS AND SCREENS
Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was at practice and didn't work as Taylor put his status for the opener at "day-to-day."
He did say if Chase did go, he wouldn't rule out playing a lot of snaps.
"It's impossible for me to say with 100% conviction, but I feel good about the shape that he's in," Taylor said.
Taylor also said they're prepared for all scenarios.
"We're always ready. There are always injuries and things you have to deal with, so we'll adapt to him," Taylor said …
Suddenly, Taylor is staring at coaching his sixth Bengals opener. Only Marvin Lewis (16), Paul Brown (eight) and Sam Wyche (eight) have coached more.
"Week 1 is about adjustments in game. You'll see something thrown at you that you maybe didn't see on preseason tape or years past. You just have to be ready to adjust," Taylor said …
He knows Pratt has played six seasons because they came in together in 2019.
"There's a bunch of guys that maybe weren't captains but still have the responsibility and that pull in the locker room and with me," Taylor said. "But it was good to see Pratt get the recognition that he deserves. He does a great job. He works hard in the film room. Hard worker on the practice field, obviously. Makes a ton of plays for us in the games. Very smart player. He's in Year Six, same year as me, that's easy to remember." …
