The Bengals have announced their team captains for the 2020 season.
– Offence:
QB, Joe Burrow
RB, Joe Mixon
WR, Tyler Boyd
– Defence:
DE, Sam Hubbard
S, Vonn Bell
S, Jessie Bates
– Special Teams
P, Kevin Huber
Team captains are voted by the players. With the departure of key veterans like AJ Green, Giovani Bernard, and Geno Atkins, there were some spots up for grabs, as the Bengals look to hand over the reins to the next wave of leaders.
On offence, there are no real surprises. Burrow was voted team captain as a rookie last year, and he was a shoe in to get it again. Joe Mixon has been one of the most vocal players on the Bengals since being drafted. In previous years, there was no room for him, with guys like Green and Bernard being voted captains. But with them gone, he became an obvious choice to step into that new role. The third spot could have gone a few ways, but Tyler Boyd is a deserving recipient. He is now the veteran of the WR unit and his role as a leader has been growing over the past few years. Guys like Trey Hopkins and CJ Uzomah also would have been solid choices. If anything, it goes to show that the Bengals have many leaders on the team. Thinking back to Zac Taylor’s introductory press conference, leadership and culture was one of the first things he emphasized. You can see that plan being put in motion.
On defence, Vonn Bell was a captain last year, his first with the Bengals. It is not surprising to see him get the patch once again. With guys like Geno Atkins and Josh Bynes departing, a spot opened up for Sam Hubbard. He has also shown leadership qualities and seems ready for his increased role. Jessie Bates will also wear a captain patch this year. He has emerged as one of the best young safeties in the league. He is very professional in the way he goes about things, and leads by example, similar to Atkins and Green. That is not to say that he isn’t vocal, either. Some other candidates could have been Logan Wilson, who will wear the headset on defence, and DJ Reader.
Kevin Huber was the only special teamer to get voted as a captain this year. In past years, guys like Clayton Fejedelem and Vincent Rey have also been special teams captains. Huber has been a captain before and has been with the Bengals for more than a decade, so this comes as no surprise.
In other news, the Bengals have made some changes to their practice squad.
The team has added veteran DT Mike Daniels. Daniels, of course, spent last year with the Bengals and was recently cut by the team during final cuts. He didn’t seem like someone that they wanted to lose, but after the BJ Hill trade, there just wasn’t any room for him on the roster. However, it will be good to have him on the practice squad and in the room, as he has been a great leader for the Bengals. As well, the team will have the ability to elevate him to the roster with no risk, should they need him.
In a corresponding move, the Bengals have released CB Winston Rose from the practice squad. I thought Rose had a much better preseason than Tony Brown, but it is Brown who is keeping his spot, at least for the time being. As the year goes on, the practice squad can become like a game of musical chairs, with guys coming in and out. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Rose back on it at some point.