Bengals News (10/22): Through the air

Matchup Of The Game: Emerging Jonah Williams Faces The Myles Marker Again
Williams, whose first six NFL games have been lost in the swirl of Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow's record-breaking first six weeks, is quietly developing in splendid obscurity during a season that would land him a spot on an NFL all-rookie team if such a ballot included first-year players.

Bengals Notebook: Zac Taylor open to throw another 60-plus times against Cleveland.
Burrow sees a different game unfolding Sunday than their Thursday nighter in Cleveland, where the Browns jumped up 14-3 and 21-10 and the Bengals never stopped the Browns running game. Those 215 yards rushing negated the 30 more plays and seven more minutes the Bengals had the ball, thanks to converting all five of their fourth downs.

COVID-19 fan protocols as the Cincinnati Bengals host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, October 25, 2020
Gates open at 11:30 a.m. Fifth Third Bank will make gameday a Fifth Third better® with early access at Gate E 30 minutes prior to regular admission when you show your Bengals Debit Card and game ticket.

Zac Taylor talks about the development of a quick-strike rookie class, the little things and his open-door policy of managing the roster
I thought they played really well against Baltimore and I thought they did some really good things against Jacksonville outside of two minute. I thought they did some good things outside of two minutes against Philly. It's not like the last three weeks leading up to this there are have been major errors outside of the two-minute drill. It's a performance we have got to learn from and everyone has to be accountable for the things they can do better. We can't let it happen again.

Zac Taylor shares message to Bengals fans after 3-18-1 start to era
The Bengals head coach off to a 3-18-1 start to his tenure after replacing Marvin Lewis says his culture-building approach can’t focus on quick solutions but instead the long-term goals.

Bengals’ Big Guns Firing Blanks As Trade Deadline Looms
He hasn't found the end zone in 2020 and despite success on Sunday, Green still ranks last among all receivers in average separation according to NextGen Stats. One of the best players in team history has gone from being a scheming mismatch to getting schemed up to avoid going MIA. Then again, at least there are numbers in the box score for Green.

Bengals should pounce on recently-released guard Quinton Spain
Spain, 29, was a cost-cutting move by the Bills after he signed a three-year extension this offseason but has missed two of the team’s last three games. He’s immediate help for a team willing to roll the dice on the circumstances behind his unexpected release and he enters free agency right away.

Bengals Notes: Taylor evasive on Dunlap situation, Ross trade request
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor failed to answer a direct question about whether or not wide receiver John Ross had asked the team to trade him and was even more evasive when asked if Carlos Dunlap's reaction on social media to being benched has had an effect on the locker room.

Bengals-Packers A.J. Green trade idea suggested by The Athletic
“Why it makes sense for Green Bay: The Packers don’t have a receiver in the NFL’s top 50 for yards. Their leading receiver, Allen Lazard, is expected to be out until late November or early December after surgery on his core muscles. Since 2016, the Packers have had only one player have a 1,000-yard receiving season (Davante Adams in 2018). Aaron Rodgers still clearly is one of the best quarterbacks in football, and the team failed to get him help in the offseason. It’s not too late, though. The Packers have three 2021 fourth-round picks.”

Around the league

NFL Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 7: Running backs
You have lineup questions. We have answers. At least we hope. Start 'Em & Sit 'Em has helped fantasy managers for years make those pressing lineup decisions. And you know what is a good decision? Starting Patrick Mahomes. But that's too obvious, so you won't see that here. Instead here are some of the most-pressing questions. And, if you can't find a player you are looking for, please check out latest NFL Fantasy lineup rankings right here.

Baker Mayfield: Browns' 4-2 record 'has never felt so much like 0-6 before'
"Yeah, I'd say the feeling throughout the building after that loss, 4-2 has never felt so much like 0-6 before,'' quarterback Baker Mayfield said Wednesday, via The Cleveland Plain Dealer. "That's because we have very high expectations for ourselves. We're eager to get back to work and to get out there and fix the problems that we know are within our own control."

Broncos QB Drew Lock embracing 'Darth Vader' role in Week 7 clash vs. Chiefs
"It's hard to forget 22 years of your life, especially because I'm only 23 now," Lock said this week, via the team's official website. "This is my first full year out of Kansas City. Everyone remembers their hometown, so there will always be that feeling of, 'My parents are actually leaving Kansas City to come see the game,' type of deal. It's nothing that makes you play different or nothing that get me all amped up to play the game this week - that's not how it works. You should be amped up for every game every week.

Eagles TE Zach Ertz (ankle) expected to miss 4-6 weeks
The news is a blow to the 1-4-1 Eagles, who have a chance to get ahead in the woeful NFC East with games against the New York Giants Thursday night and Dallas Cowboys in Week 8. Following a bye, the Eagles face the Giants once again. Sweep the division games, and Philly would position itself for a playoff run.

Ryan Fitzpatrick on benching in favor of Tua Tagovailoa: 'It was heartbreaking for me'
"My heart just hurt all day," Fitzpatrick said. "It was heartbreaking for me. Flo said what he said, and said what he said to you guys as well, and that's the decision and direction the organization is going in. Obviously, we've talked in the past about how, I'm the placeholder, and this eventually was going to happen. It was just a matter of when, not if. It still just broke my heart yesterday and it's a tough thing for me to hear and to know have to deal with. And I'm going to do my best with it."