Bengals Quick Hits: Jordan Battle, Jermaine Burton Provide Highlights In 27-14 Loss

CINCINNATI — The preseason is mercifully over for the Bengals.

For the second straight year, the Bengals finished the preseason without a win, dropping a 20-14 contest to the Indianapolis Colts Thursday night before an announced crowd of 63,113 at Paycor Stadium.

The Bengals finished the preseason 0-3 and are 2-9-1 in the preseason since the start of 2021. The offense failed to produce a point Thursday until the fourth quarter, with only Jordan Battle’s pick-6 of Colts starting quarterback Anthony Richardson to show for scoring.

The Bengals went winless for the fourth time in franchise history, going 0-4 in 1983, 0-4 in 1999 and 0-2-1 last year.

For the second time this preseason, Logan Woodside found Jermaine Burton for a late fourth quarter touchdown, this time for 21 yards. Burton finished with four catches on five targets for 56 yards and the one touchdown.

Woodside was 16-of-21 for 98 yards and a touchdown. Colts third-string QB Jason Bean scored on a 1-yard TD early in the fourth quarter to make it 17-7 Colts.

As was the case with Caleb Williams and the Bears last Saturday in Chicago, the Colts first team offense came out and started the game behind quarterback Anthony Richardson.

The difference Thursday night and marched down against the Bengals defense comprised of second and third-team players. Lou Anarumo came out calling a five-man front, in part, to get a better look at a number of interior linemen battling for roster spots.

Richardson completed 7-of-8 for 65 yards, including a 9-yard crossing route to Adonai Mitchell who went in nearly untouched for a 7-0 lead.

Richardson, who threw high for his only incompletion on the first drive, was not nearly as successful. He misfired on his first throw before throwing a pass on a short curl route by Kylen Granson right into the stomach of Jordan Battle. The Bengals second-year safety, already with his roster spot locked in, trotted 14 yards into the end zone untouched for a game-tying touchdown.

The drive was set up by a 35-yard Ryan Rehkow punt that pinned the Colts at their 9.

Rehkow again had a very up-and-down first half in his fight to beat out incumbent Brad Robbins. He punted a 57-yarder on his first of the night, but it landed five yards deep in the end zone for an obvious touchback. That was a net 37.

After his 35-yarder, he got off a 55-yarder, which was aided by a fair catch. But on his fourth punt, with little rush, he misfired for just 29 yards.

The Bengals second-team defense showed some moxie following Indianapolis’ first drive. The Colts drove to the Cincinnati 9 and had first and goal with 27 seconds left. The Bengals collapsed the pocket on fourth down on Sam Ehlinger, who threw the ball away.

As good as the defense was, the second and third-team offense was poor for a second time in five days.

Other takeaways from Thursday:

For the second time in five days, the second team offensive line started and played into the second half with Woodside. Cody Ford at left tackle, Trey Hill at left guard, Matt Lee at center, Nate Gilliam at right guard and Jaxson Kirkland at right tackle.

Joe Burrow said during the Prime Video broadcast that he would’ve liked to have played Thursday night. Zac Taylor acknowledged that Burrow wanted to play Thursday but he and the coaches decided to let his work on Tuesday be the final competitive work he gets in the preseason. “I thought the Colts (joint) practice was one of his best of the year.”

Charlie Jones made his preseason debut, returning the opening kick 48 yards to the Indianapolis 48. But the offense could do nothing with it. He also fielded three punts in the first half, returning two for a total of 12 yards.

Trayveon Williams, a lock to make the team as Cincinnati’s third back behind Chase Brown and Zack Moss, showed burst on consecutive runs of 14 yards in the second quarter. Williams finished with 66 yards on 11 carries. Williams played into the fourth quarter of the preseason finale, which is usually not a good harbinger for a veteran at this stage of his career.