Bengals news (9/29): Changing of the guard

Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is trending up, while A.J. Green is still looking to return to form
Rookie wide receiver Tee Higgins caught his first two NFL touchdowns Sunday as well as two big tips he chalked up as lessons the day after a very busy 23-23 game in Philadelphia for the Bengals second-rounder.

Bengals Sign Keaton Sutherland To Roster, Waive Shaq Calhoun
Sutherland (6-5, 315), a second-year player out of Texas A&M, originally was a college free agent signee of the Bengals in 2019. He began last season on Cincinnati's practice squad, and then signed with Miami, where he played in three games (two starts). He was waived by the Dolphins at final cuts this season, and then signed with the Bengals' practice squad on Sept. 8.

Bengals want balance for Joe Burrow between 'being smart' and getting hit
In the second quarter of a 23-23 tie with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Boyd was getting up after 9-yard completion. He saw rookie quarterback Joe Burrow writhing in pain after a shoulder to the neck area knocked the wind out of him.

Podcast: Protecting Joe Burrow, Bengals' roster moves and Zac Taylor's comments
CINCINNATI — Jake Liscow and I discuss the Bengals' offensive line, why they need to aggressively address their biggest weakness, plus more roster moves are on the way and Zac Taylor talks about the tie with the Eagles.

8 free agents, trades, other moves Bengals could use to fix o-line
The Cincinnati Bengals have to face the uncomfortable reality that what they have on the offensive line isn’t good enough — and that if they stand still now, they run the risk of ruining Joe Burrow.

The Bengals need to give up on the Zac Taylor experiment
Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow has looked deserving of the first overall pick the Bengals spent on him by playing like a veteran in his first three career starts. Unfortunately, Taylor has not been able to capitalize on his new quarterback’s great start and has instead blundered away opportunities to come away with a win week in and week out.

Cincinnati Bengals: 5 Things to Watch in Week 4
This week, the Bengals are playing Gardner Minshew and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bengals actually have more talent on their roster than the Jaguars, but Minshew loves to chuck the ball around, so it could be close. Although the Bengals are favored to win, they should get ready for a game with a lot of offense.

Bengals promote Keaton Sutherland and waive Shaq Calhoun
Sutherland, 23, is a second-year player out of Texas A&M. He signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He spent two games on Cincinnati's practice squad last season. The Bengals activated him for Week 3 and waived him on Sept. 25, 2019.

Around the league

Magnificent Mahomes, Chiefs hand Ravens their first defeat
Blessed with a miracle for an arm, an artful ability to improvise and the generational talent to contort and throw from impossible angles, Patrick Mahomes truly showcased his often unfathomable skill set, scoring six in a ridiculous variety of ways. First he rolled right and ran it in. Then he wound up and tossed an underhanded shovel pass to Anthony Sherman. And then he dropped a beautiful ball into the end zone, throwing open Tyreek Hill for another six. Then a 49-yarder dropped perfectly into the arms of Mecole Hardman. Seemingly there's no throw he can't make, nor a receiver he won't include (eight caught passes Monday). And just when the Ravens worked back into striking distance, Mahomes tossed a TD to a former No. 1 overall pick – offensive tackle Eric Fisher

Falling short in spotlight officially a problem for Ravens
Such teams can't merely marvel at the talent in their locker room, the statistics they compile or all the opponents they batter when the games don't mean as much. They actually have to deliver when the spotlight burns brightest, and the consequences are most dire. This is where the Baltimore Ravens (2-1) keep falling short, and they officially should consider it a problem.

Mahomes, Reid applaud stifling defense in Chiefs' win over Ravens
Kansas City defeated Baltimore 34-20 on Monday night with a fantastic blend of scintillating offensive performance and stifling defense that kept the reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson in check and saw his award-winning predecessor light up television screens all over the U.S. Patrick Mahomes threw for nearly 400 yards, while Jackson failed to break 100 through the air and fell short of the century mark on the ground as well.

Carroll upset by Trysten Hill's twisting of Carson's leg: 'He really hurt him'
Seattle lost running back Chris Carson to a knee injury that coach Pete Carroll said Monday was a first-degree strain. Cowboys defensive tackle Trysten Hill wrapped up Carson's legs from behind before rolling over them late in the fourth quarter, appearing to twist Carson's leg well after the running back was down, resulting in an injury that has angered Carroll and his players.

Debrief: Forward-thinking moves paying off through Week 3
Diggs beat Jalen Ramsey one-on-one for a touchdown on third and-goal from the 4-yard line, reading the field with the same eyes as Josh Allen, just before Allen got hit by Aaron Donald. Diggs and Allen's chemistry has been remarkable for how quickly it has developed. Many of Allen's best throws this season have come out-of-structure, with Diggs understanding where his quarterback needed him to be.