Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Flacco jokes about dining alone in Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco joked about time away from his family at a recent press conference. Here’s what he had to say.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor addressed the trade request of linebacker Logan Wilson.
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson requested a trade from his team after he lost his job to rookie linebacker Barrett Carter. ESPN first reported the news that Wilson asked for a trade on Oct. 23.
Wilson started five games this season before Bengals head coach Zac Taylor wanted to make a switch at middle linebacker. Against the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 12, the Bengals started Carter in place of Wilson. The Bengals kept Carter as their starting linebacker for a second consecutive week giving him 100% of the snaps in the win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 16.
Taylor addressed Wilson’s trade request and what he told his team captain seeking a move elsewhere on Oct. 24 with Cincinnati’s local media.
“Keep focused on being here, you know, and helping us as best as you can,” Taylor said of the conversation. “And I know it’s frustrating with the role, but he’s handled it really well. He’s done a great job with the young linebackers. He’s continued to be in a leadership role in our team. I know that this situation can be difficult and challenging and just keep focused on being here and working for us, trying to find ways to win.”
Wilson denied The Enquirer’s request for comment on the trade request on Oct. 24 following practice.
The Bengals’ decision to start Carter in place of Wilson signals the organization’s willingness to bet on their young talent. Playing next to Carter in the starting lineup is second-round pick Demetrius Knight.
Cincinnati is going all in on its two rookie linebackers. That’s why Taylor says the decision to move to Carter was more about what he’s seen from his rookies than any specific indictment on Wilson.
“It was more about Barrett than it was about Logan,” Taylor said. “I see a very high ceiling in Barrett. I see some great qualities in him that (we) wanted to see more of, and the only way to do that was to expand the role. So that’s where it’s at. And I told (Logan) he’s in a position where there’s a young player that I think has a really high ceiling, and so that’s the decision I made on the field.”
Taylor has continued to put the onus on himself as the person who made the decision. Defensive coordinator Al Golden’s input is always valued, but Taylor made the ultimate call.
The Bengals drafting Carter and Knight within their first five picks of this year’s NFL draft signaled change could be coming soon. It wasn’t expected to come this fast, though.
Taylor said he believes Carter gives his defense the best chance to succeed and that he is willing to deal with the growing pains that often come with a rookie starting at linebacker.
For now, Taylor is singularly focused on what gives his team the best chance to win each week. And there is little debate the defense needs to improve.
Cincinnati has given up an average of 30.6 points in its seven games (31st in the NFL) and an average of 34.2 points in the past five games.
The defense has given up the second-most yards in the NFL (2,761) behind only Dallas (2,811). The passing defense ranks 30th in the league (257.1 ypg) and the rushing defense 27th (137.3 ypg). Only once have the Bengals held a team to fewer than 27 points, and that was the Cleveland Browns in the season opener.
Knight is tied for the team lead with 50 tackles. Wilson has 41 and Carter 40.
“Trying to find ways to win, whatever you got to do, we’re willing to do it, man,” Taylor said. “Some of them are hard. Some of them are emotional decisions, hard decisions. But that’s what we have to do in order to do everything we can to get this thing going in the right direction.”
Cincinnati gave Wilson a four-year contract extension in 2023 worth $36 million. The 29-year-old former third-round pick is under contract through the 2027 season with the Bengals. Wilson’s cap hit for this year is $8.7 million according to Spotrac.com. This makes it unlikely a team would be willing to not only give up a draft pick to the Bengals but also take on his contract at this point in his career.
The NFL trade deadline is at 4 p.m. ET Nov. 4.