When the Colts visit Cincinnati at One Paycor Stadium, it will be a matchup between two teams with various states of confidence and certainty going into the season.
For the Bengals, the game will be a chance to heave a sigh of relief now that Joe Burrow is healthy going in, so they'll be focused on the final roster decision in advance of their home opener against New England.
Indianapolis, however, faces a very different situation. They have the tough Houston Texans coming to town for their home opener, and after a difficult week featuring joint practices against the Bengals, the Colts have some questions to answer about their star quarterback, Anthony Richardson.
Game Details
Fixture: Indianapolis Colts @ Cincinnati Bengals
Date and Time: August 22, 2024 8:00 PM
Location: One Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati OH
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Indianapolis Colts Team Review
The Colts got off to a solid start in week one against Denver, getting Richardson back on the field for a brief cameo, then scoring points with four other quarterbacks (!) in a 34-30 loss. Richardson sat the next game out, but Indy posted a 21-13 win over Arizona as Zavier Scott and Tyler Goodson rushed for a combined 90 yards and two scores.
Raekwon Davis could be back on the field after a high blood pressure scare, which was discovered during his initial physical after he signed a two-year, $14 million deal. The defensive tackle is expected to make his first preseason appearance against the Bengals, and he's expected to help anchor the team's interior defense.
Tight end Jelani Woods, however, wasn't as fortunate. He sustained a toe injury against Arizona and will miss this game, and his injury may impact final roster cuts.
Cincinnati Bengals Team Review
Most of the focus for Cincinnati has been on keeping Joe Burrow healthy. Some minor issues about a wrist injury surfaced during camp, but nothing has come of those, so Burrow has basically been cleared for takeoff for the season opener as the Pats come to town.
The side issue has been Ja'Marr Chase, who has been holding in to try to get a new deal. His $3.8 million dollar training camp roster bonus likely kept Chase from holding out, according to Pro Football Talk, but Chase still has two years left on his rookie deal, so he doesn't have much leverage in this situation other than the fact that the Bengals should want to keep him happy.
Who to Watch
Indianapolis Colts
For the Colts, the player to watch will be quarterback Anthony Richardson. Quarterback is always the position to watch, especially for teams looking to develop young QBs, but Richardson didn't do well at all during a joint practice against the Bengals.
He was called out by Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt when he held onto the ball when his receivers were covered, and the cornerback then addressed Colts fans in the crowd, saying, "Is that all he does is run?"
Cincinnati Bengals
Keep an eye on the Bengal's offensive line in this one. Whether or not Burrow plays in this game, several linemen will be under the microscope. One is Alex Cappa, who carries a potential cap savings if he's released in the last year of his contract, and he's been ID'ed as a player on the hot seat by ESPN.
His linemates on the opposite side of the ball will be in the spotlight as well. DT Kris Jenkins had a rough rookie debut, but he showed out against the Bears with a sack of Caleb Williams, which indicated he might be a factor in the pass rush this year.