RT Trent Brown (10), C Ted Karras (9), LT Orlando Brown Jr. (7), RG Alex Cappa (7), G-T Cody Ford (6), T Jackson Carman (4), C-G Trey Hill (4), T D’Ante Smith (4), LG Cordell Volson (3), T Devin Cochran (2), C Nate Gilliam (1), G Jaxson Kirkland (1), C Matt Lee (R), RT Eric Miller (R), RT Amarius Mims (R).
The young guys who needed a big outing in their roster bids came through. Just look at PFF’s two top blocking grades for Saturday. Kirkland shot out from left guard to left tackle for all but 10 of the 63 snaps to take the top spot, and Lee played every snap and graded out at No. 2.
Kirkland, who played left tackle at Washington before spending his rookie year last season on the Bengals’ practice squad, made his mark here by mixing it up at guard with a physical game. But against the Bears, he impressed in his effort to lock up a swing roster spot when he went outside and allowed one hurry, no hits and no sacks in 33 pass blocks (via PFF), several against the Chicago Ones. One of his foes, end DeMarcus Walker, has 23 career sacks.
Lee, the seventh-rounder from the University of Miami, came full circle when he went all the way Saturday and made a bid for the No. 2 center job behind Karras. Lee showed real strength against the Bears’ huge tackle regulars, among them old friend Andrew Billings, the former 6-1, 311-pound former Bengal. Lee allowed no pressures on 39 pass blocks, via PFF.
And if you listen to Lee on the Bengals’ postgame radio show fluently speaking third-down protections with old Cincy center (and guard and tackle) Dave Lapham, you know why they think he’s smart enough to make the jump.
It has been reported that Smith (knee) is lost for the year, a very tough injury to watch Thursday in Chicago. It looked like he was on the verge of being the 10th lineman, but now they’ll probably stick with their usual 53-man complement of nine.
They seem pretty set at tackle even though it is…
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