Bengals minicamp Day 2 recap and injury updates

Two minicamp practices down, one to go.

The Cincinnati Bengals wrapped up their second minicamp session on Wednesday, meaning the team has just one more offseason workout before a five-week break until training camp.

By now, you likely know the big story of the day: Second-year wide receiver Cody Core suffered a leg injury. It’s unfortunate to see, especially since Cincinnati has avoided offseason injuries thus far, and they were just one more practice away from making it to training camp without one. The good news is that Core is expected to be OK and word is, he’ll be ready for training camp. What looked terrible, may turn out to be just a blip in the radar.

Sticking to injuries, first-round receiver John Ross was again present as he works his way back from shoulder surgery. He’s not doing significant on-field work in minicamp, but he has been able to soak in this NFL environment and be with his teammates. He’s running routes and lining up on the field, which is nice to see.

Fifth-round center J.J. Dielman was also present and doing some light work. It sounds like Dielman should be cleared to return from his foot injury by the time camp is here. With Dielman out, that means more practice reps for players he’s battling for roster spots, including Trey

s.

Now in his fourth year with the Bengals, Hopkins is vying for a backup guard spot while showing he can also play center and even tackle.

Dre Kirkpatrick continues to get some work in while recovering from a broken hand, though he’s yet to take part in team drills.

Sixth-round rookie Brandon Wilson continues to be sidelined by a knee injury. Another rookie sidelined Tuesday was undrafted free agent running back Jarveon Williams.

Wilson has a been sidelined for offseason workouts, so seeing him likely miss all of minicamp isn’t a surprise. Even as a sixth-round rookie who the Bengals traded up to get, Wilson is no lock to make the roster, especially if he keeps sitting on the sideline.

The kicking battle rages on with rookie Jake Elliott finally showing a sliver of separation from veteran Randy Bullock.

It also sounds like Elliott was getting off his kicks a hair quicker than Bullock.

Both kickers had been making virtually everything in offseason workouts thus far, so even one kick that Elliott made and Brown missed could assist in the battle that the rookie should win.

Another rookie vying for a big role on this team is Carl Lawson. The fourth-round pass-rusher out of Auburn has been a beast in these pad-less practices, and today was no different.

As long as Lawson keeps this up in training camp and the preseason, he’ll have a nice role in this defense as a rookie. Off-the-field, the Bengals had a rain break during practice on Tuesday, during which Lawson sang the Auburn fight song. Nearly every member of the defense filmed the rookie singing.

Speaking of the pass rush, the Bengals offered an interesting look today with free safety George Iloka actually blitzing up the middle.

In 67 career NFL games, Iloka has yet to register a sack, so seeing him blitz is a rare sight. It remains to be seen if it will actually be used in game action, though most defenses run safety blitzes for both safeties at some point during a 16-game season.

It helps that Iloka is a physical safety to begin with, so blitzing him a few times per game could certainly help Cincinnati’s pass rush.