Bengals News (8/1): Defense wins the day

Camp Report: Defense Continues Revival
The Bengals defense has spent the spring and summer quietly re-building its swag and on Wednesday during the first padded practice of the season they noisily came out of the shadows with a rambunctious stand in the second half of practice that dominated day.

Training Camp 2019 Photo Gallery, Fueled By Gatorade: Day 5
View some of the top photos from training camp on July 31, 2019, fueled by Gatorade.

Quick Hits: Jonah Still Preparing; Crocker Coaching For Real
It’s a longshot, but the Bengals haven’t given up on the idea of rookie left tackle Jonah Williams playing late in the year. His torn labrum may very well be a season-ender, but you could see them keeping him on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) at the start of the season rather ending his season on injured reserve in order to keep their proverbial options open.

Zac Taylor has already made a point to connect with Chad Johnson
It was always going to be interesting to see how new Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor connected with franchise legends such as Chad Johnson.

Damion Willis is the undrafted free agent tearing up Bengals camp
The Cincinanti Bengals need somebody to step up at wideout with A.J. Green out of the picture for an unknown amount of time and John Ross battling another issue.

Joe Mixon: Bengals' offense will be 'nightmare' for D
"Schematically, you know Coach Taylor has come in, the way he's got it set up, it's crazy," Mixon said, via the Dayton Daily News. "It's night and day from what everyone has seen these past years from the old Bengals. Coach Taylor, he's got it where it's going to be a nightmare for the defense. I look forward to it. Everybody has to take it upon themselves to be the best of themselves in this offense. You can count on the people and leaders out there to deliver."

Heard and observed: Bengals defense carries over domination from minicamp
“The defense finished on top for sure,” Taylor said. “The offense had a fast start in the first unscripted period. I thought they were moving the ball, but ultimately in that red-zone (and two-minute) competition period the defense did a great job, and they won the day.”

Inside Bengals camp: Key injuries test new coach Zac Taylor, the value of Andy Dalton and more
As if the transition going from a relatively unknown offensive assistant under Rams wunderkind head coach Sean McVay to replacing a grizzled veteran coach with the Bengals -- Marvin Lewis, who had reached the playoffs in five straight years not that long ago and ran the team for the last 16 years -- wasn't enough of a task already. Now Taylor, 36, is already dealing with his first injury crisis, with it striking the very core of his offense.

Bengals lineman John Jerry competing for starting LG position.
Going into camp, the Bengals intention was to rotate Jerry and Westerman in with the starters every few days. Thus far, the club is on course. Jerry opened training camp working with the first unit for the first two days in no pads. Westerman practiced with the starters on Monday’s unpadded session and was first man up at left guard in Wednesday’s full-padded practice.

Michigan State Football: Tony Lippett signs with Bengals
On Tuesday, Lippett, a converted cornerback, signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, joining former teammate in East Lansing Darqueze Dennard in the defensive backfield.

Bengals day at camp 7-31: 'D' wins first day in pads; Andy talks to A.J.; new CB has ties
A Bengals training camp that already got off to a disastrous start with an injury to wide receiver A.J. Green had another hold your breath moment on Wednesday when quarterback Andy Dalton got accidentally rolled after throwing a pass and went down, and while Dalton was able to get back up it was also a microcosm for how much the defense dominated the day.

Around the league

Top 100 Players of 2019, Nos. 10-1: Aaron Donald takes No. 1 spot
This marks four straight top-15 rankings for Miller. He peaked at No. 2 in 2017 after winning Super Bowl 50 MVP, and he's been hanging around the bottom of the top-10 ever since. Von isn't as dominant throughout the regular season as he was early in his career, but he's still worthy of this spot. Miller's 14.5 sacks in 2018 was the second-highest total of his career. Former AFC-rival Joe Flacco is now his quarterback, which could be good or bad, depending on what you think of the former Super Bowl MVP. Not sure if anyone has realized it, but the Broncos are one of two teams in the NFL with two former Super Bowl MVPs on their roster. Getting back to the postseason in 2019 could go a long way for Miller in next year's Top 100.

Michael Thomas agrees to 5-year, $100M extension
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that the Saints and star receiver Michael Thomas reached a five-year, $100 million contract extension, per a source informed of the deal. The deal includes $61 million in guarantees, added Rapoport.

Fangio eyeing Broncos' young O-line vs. Falcons
There will be some key players on the field tonight, however. One area to keep your eye on will be the Broncos offensive line, where three O-lineman who could be opening day starters will participate: left tackle Garett Bolles, rookie guard Dalton Risner and center Connor McGovern.

Panthers signing safety Tre Boston to one-year deal
Boston spent the first three seasons of his career with the Panthers, who drafted him in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. After Carolina waived the injury-prone Boston in 2017, the safety spent the next two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals.

Baker Mayfield unafraid in calling out Browns WRs
"There's an appreciation from my end that [Beckham] has been able to come communicate and talk through things," Mayfield said. "Just being able to talk through things, and see it from their perspective and mine, is really good."