Bengals lose way more than they gain from joint practice session with Bears leading up to preseason matchup

UPDATE : Chris Evans suffered a torn patellar tendon and is out for the entire 2024 season.

Thursday afternoon could only be described as ugly for the Cincinnati Bengals. Ugly weather in a road setting led to an ugly practice against the Chicago Bears, and the injury situation looks even worse.

Running back Chris Evans and offensive tackle D'Ante Smith were each carted off the field with leg injuries. Smith went down in noticeable pain, per reports.

Evans and Smith were firmly on the roster bubble entering the final two weeks of preseason action, and two potentially severe injuries would absolutely burst their respective bubbles. Evans had a shot as the fourth running back and as a kickoff returner, while Smith was in line for the fourth tackle spot.

Smith's value as a reserve is notable considering the other injuries at that position. Amarius Mims is out for the time being with a strained pectoral muscle, and Trent Brown was subbed out of Thursday's practice with lower back tightness, according to head coach Zac Taylor.

Who's left to practice at tackle? Obviously starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. is still around, but it's not looking great aside from him if Brown ends up missing more time after tightness took him out of commission at the start of training camp. Cody Ford, Jackson Carman, Devin Cochran, and rookie undrafted free agent Eric Miller are the remaining names to know.

Needless to say, Mims and Brown are needed back expeditiously.

The one positive development from Thursday was the return of wide receiver/punt returner Charlie Jones. The second-year player missed the last week of practice after bumping knees with a teammate leading up to the team's preseason opener. Jones confirmed he avoided a worst case scenario.

"I just caught the ball, turned up, and then we just went knee-to-knee," Jones said to Cincinnati.com's Kelsey Conway. "Best case scenario, honestly. Feeling much better every day, and it was good to be out there today."

The fear for Jones was real last week, at least from the outside looking in, but he seems to be on track and healthy. Cincinnati could use more good news like that with its latest injuries.

Jones (if he plays) and the reserves will have all of Saturday's game against the Bears for themselves as none of the Bengals' starters will suit up . That's looking like the correct decision after an unfortunate week of attrition.

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