Bengals Training Camp: DJ Turner, Myles Murphy Among Key Players to Watch
· Yahoo Sports
The Cincinnati Bengals will begin the second week of training camp in the coming days. After an action-packed first four days, the addition of pads will heighten the level of competition and increase the intrigue for fans.
Here is who and what I'll be paying the closest attention to this week as training camp shifts into full gear.
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Cornerback DJ Turner has been matched up against Ja'Marr Chase consistently, and Chase has won the majority of those battles so far, at least based on what has been shared on social media. After Turner recorded a pass breakup on the first rep, Chase and Joe Burrow connected for a red-zone touchdown. Given that Turner is one of the most prominent candidates for a contract extension, the continued back-and-forth between him and Chase could serve as a barometer for the step forward many believe Turner can take.
Myles Murphy had a quiet first week on the defensive line, while much of the attention centered on Shemar Stewart's injury scare, which ultimately proved to be minor, and Dexter Lawrence's elite pass-rushing ability from the interior of the defensive line. Murphy is another candidate for a contract extension, and reports indicate the Bengals want him in Cincinnati long term after his 5.5-sack season in 2025. However, given how deep the defensive line is with the additions of Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen and Cashius Howell, Murphy faces an uphill battle to earn that extension in such a crowded position group.
He could use a strong week of camp to build momentum heading into the season.
Chase Brown is expected to have a big season, and the introduction of pads will certainly change how his performance is evaluated. Ted Karras recently discussed how the offensive line wants to excel in the outside run game. If Brown can break off a few explosive runs to the outside, or even between the tackles, for big gains or touchdowns, it will certainly turn heads and give many people confidence in both the running game and the offensive line.
The Bengals made it through the first week of training camp with few injuries, the most significant being the aforementioned scare involving Shemar Stewart. Much of the rest of the league has not been as fortunate, and I'll be watching to see whether Cincinnati can continue to stay healthy moving forward, as one big injury can derail everything.