Bengals reveal critical starting job decisions before Week 1

Two starting Cincinnati Bengals battles for Week 1 were decided earlier this week and they’ll go to a player facing his former team and a former first-round pick.

Trent Brown gets the nod at right tackle, meaning he will face one of his former teams in the New England Patriots. Brown had two stints in New England, first in 2018 and then the last three seasons following two years with the Raiders.

Rookie first-round pick Amarius Mims is dealing with a pectoral injury and was ruled out for Sunday. Fellow reserve tackle D’Ante Smith is on injured reserve. So it’s the two Browns up front, Orlando and Trent as the tackles.

As for the running mate to Cam Taylor-Britt and cornerback, that role will go to 2022 first-round pick Dax Hill, beating out last year’s starter, DJ Turner.

“It was a great battle. It wasn’t a guy failed so the other one is the starter,” head coach Zac Taylor said, via the Bengals’ official website. “It was two guys I really felt like getting the best out of each other. For Dax to be able to assume that responsibility I think is good. It doesn’t mean DJ is not playing, (or) that there is not roles we have for these other guys. It’s a long season so guys have to be ready for their opportunity to come.”

Hill started all 17 games last season at safety, recording 110 tackles and two interceptions with 11 passes defended. The Bengals were able to move Hill to cornerback after signing former Ravens safety Geno Stone in free agency to pair with the returning Vonn Bell. That gives the Bengals a nice five-some in the defensive backfield with Hill, Bell, Stone, Taylor-Britt and nickelback Mike Hilton. We’ll get our first true look at this group Sunday against New England.