Bengals News (10/15): Calling the problem

Matchup of the game: Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow versus the Indianapolis Colts secondary
As Burrow worked on the field Wednesday in his first practice since last Sunday's fall-back-to-earth game in Baltimore to prepare for his sixth NFL start, Peyton Manning's dad checked in from New Orleans with some of the same soothing words Arche Manning used on his son every Monday morning during that bumpy ride that was 1998.

Quick Hits: A.J. Green limited in practice on Wednesday
For one thing, it looks like he's going to play after he missed the second half in Baltimore with a hamstring injury. Before practice head coach Zac Taylor indicated Green would take Wednesday off for a rest day he has been taking lately and that he expects him to practice Thursday. But Green showed up on Wednesday's injury report as going limited.

Taylor Made Takes: Bengals head coach Zac Taylor talks about building team chemistry and looks forward to the Colts game in Week 6
Yes. Small things that are going to add up to equal big things. And you have to continue just winning these small victories over the course of the week in your preparation and the way guys approach things. The way that the leadership handles things that go on. That stuff all adds up. We feel like we're going in the right direction. I know that the score was not indicative of where we think we're going. We have to put that one behind us and look forward and learn from our mistakes and have a better week this week.

Bengals Notes: Taylor on Green, "He's in a great place"; coaching vs. QB older than him
There have been questions regarding whether Green tapped out of the game due to his frustration over his role in the offense and lack of productivity through the first five games, and he was caught on camera appearing to tell an assistant coach on the sideline, "just trade me," after he came out.

Bengals Mailbag: Zac Taylor's Culture, A.J. Green's Trade Value and Stretching the Field
We're going to be doing these mailbags throughout the year. Feel free to post your questions in the community tab at AllBengals.com or leave a comment on a story. You can also tweet me your questions. If I don't get to them on here, I could answer them on the Locked on Bengals podcast.

Cincinnati Bengals’ big-money signings spoiled by injury bug
And part of that is repeated losses to yet another unlucky streak with the injury bug. While the front office’s focus on bringing aboard high-character leaders from winning pro teams was savvy — it doesn’t matter if the guys can’t stay on the field.

Bengals: Zac Taylor isn’t doing enough to protect Joe Burrow
Bengals fans are surely happy with what they’ve seen from the first-overall pick, but there is a dark cloud hanging over things right now: Burrow is taking a lot of sacks. In a blowout loss in Baltimore, the Ravens sacked the rookie seven times, bringing his season total up to 22, which puts him on pace for 70 this season. That would be the third-highest single-season total in NFL history.

Around the league

Falcons working remotely Thursday after positive COVID-19 test
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that the Falcons are working remotely Thursday morning following one confirmed positive COVID-19 test Wednesday and potentially more. The league is working to confirm one or more positive while contract tracing, Garafolo added.

Fred Dean, Hall of Fame defensive end, dies at age of 68
"The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Fred Dean," Hall of Fame president and CEO David Baker said in a statement. "He exemplified many of the values learned from this great game -- commitment, integrity, courage -- over the course of his life. Our thoughts and prayers are with Fred's wife, Pam, and their entire family. We will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration for future generations. The Hall of Fame flag will be flown at half-staff in Fred's memory."

Matt Ryan not worried about future in Atlanta: 'We rent these lockers; we don't own them'
"We rent these lockers; we don't own them," Ryan said, via the team's official website. "We have to go out and pay that rent and earn your spot day in and day out. Regardless of whether you're in Year 1 or Year 13, that's our responsibility as players all of the time is to go out there and perform, that's what we're paid to do."

Kyle Shanahan: Super Bowl hangover 'frustrating' but has 'no correlation' with 49ers 2-3 start
"I think it's frustrating," Shanahan told Rams beat reporters Wednesday, via the team's official transcript. "I mean, just like you said, the Super Bowl hanging over, is just the big questions you've got to answer all the time and especially when you don't have any offseason, so it kind of lingers even longer because I mean, the first time we came back after the Super Bowl was training camp. So, it was kind of right there with the questions and stuff."

Washington coach Ron Rivera: 'I have not quit' on Dwayne Haskins
Allen's mobility was the only boost the Washington offense saw last week in the loss to the Los Angeles Rams before he exited with a shoulder injury. Smith was obliterated behind the Washington offensive line -- taking six sacks -- and barely got a pass off downfield in the sloppy, wet conditions.