Jessie Bates, Darius Phillips express support for Mackensie Alexander

It’s been an abnormally distressful training camp for the Cincinnati Bengals and their players. The on-going situation involving Mackensie Alexander is just the latest development.

On Monday, Alexander left training camp to help search for his missing father in Okeechobee, Florida. The next day, Alexander was arrested and charged with battery after he and a former high school teammate confronted the man who was last seen with his father and reportedly left him behind on their berry-picking trip.

Alexander was granted his released from jail Wednesday afternoon by way of a $2,000 bond or pretrial release, just one hour before the Bengals began their practice.

A couple of Alexander’s teammates, Darius Phillips and Jessie Bates III, spoke to local media before practice and said they support Alexander and what he’s going through. Bates said that the whole defensive backs room texted Alexander last night.

Alexander was one of the several free agent additions to Cincinnati’s secondary this offseason and was taking reps as the defense’s starting slot cornerback. While he’s away, it’s unclear who will fill that spot, but the team has Alexander’s back while he’s away.