Bengals head coach Zac Taylor plans to play quarterback Joe Burrow and the rest of his starters for a significant portion of the first quarter in Monday night’s preseason game against Washington. The plan is similar to the Aug. 7 preseason opener, where Burrow and the offense scored two touchdowns in the game’s first 12 and a half minutes.
First-rounder Shemar Stewart is expected to make his NFL debut at edge, with Taylor working him with the Ones. However, starting edge Myles Murphy will not play due to an injury, which Taylor expects to be a “week-ish” timeline. Safety Geno Stone will also sit out Monday.
Tight end Noah Fant makes his Bengals debut, while tight end Mike Gesicki sits out for a second consecutive game. Second-team left guard Cordell Volson is injured and won’t play.
Cornerback DJ Turner II is questionable, and wide receiver Jermaine Burton’s status is uncertain. Cornerbacks Cam Taylor-Britt and Dax Hill are primed to play after having good camps. Taylor hopes to see them on the field Monday night.
The coach emphasizes a focus on less sloppy play and avoiding “foolish things” seen in the opener, such as pre- and post-snap penalties. The Bengals will not participate in their usual joint practice with a team this year, instead spending more time on internal items. Taylor believes this decision was correct, given the time spent on game-planning.
The starter status for the Aug. 23 preseason finale against the Colts remains uncertain.
Source: https://www.bengals.com/news/zac-taylor-reveals-bengals-plans-for-monday-night-in-washington