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Ben Child, ESPN Workers Author
CINCINNATI — The absence of two star receivers wasn’t a priority for Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor on Tuesday.
Following the group’s first OTA observe, Taylor downplayed Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase not being current for drills. Higgins has but to signal the franchise tag the Bengals positioned on him in February. Chase has but to take part within the group’s offseason program as nicely. He’s eligible for a brand new contract after reaching the Professional Bowl in every of his first three seasons.
Taylor burdened the voluntary nature of the group’s exercises and stated the absences of Higgins and Chase should not set again the event of the offense.
“[They] are nonetheless working exhausting elsewhere, and so they’ll be again on the proper occasions,” Taylor stated. “And the sweetness is we all know these guys, we all know what they’re about and that they will be prepared and targeted when it is time to come again.”
Different notable absences included defensive deal with Sheldon Rankins and projected beginning proper deal with Trent Brown. Each gamers had been a part of the group’s main additions throughout free company. Taylor additionally downplayed these absences when it got here to studying Cincinnati’s playbook.
“They’ve the data, so I do know that they are staying on prime of it,” Taylor stated. “And after they get right here and are capable of get these reps, I do know that these two guys are vets and so they’ll be in an actual great place.”
Cincinnati is in search of to bounce again from a disappointing season. After successful the AFC North in 2021 and 2022 and making deep playoff runs in each years, together with a loss in Tremendous Bowl LVI, Cincinnati missed the playoffs in 2023 after quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist damage.
Burrow has participated within the group’s offseason program. On Tuesday, he had veteran Trenton Irwin, rookie Jermaine Burton and second-year gamers Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones as out there targets.
Taylor stated he likes how Burrow has regarded.
“He is been correct,” Taylor stated. “He is been on time [with the ball]. He is throwing with nice velocity and energy.”
The Bengals will conduct OTAs by way of Thursday and once more June 3-6. The group’s offseason program will conclude with necessary minicamp June 11-13.