Live Updates: Packers at Bengals in NFL Preseason Opener

The Green Bay Packers are kicking off the preseason at the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday. Follow along all night for updates.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Aug 11, 2023 9:53 PM EDT
Original:
Aug 11, 2023

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers are starting the 2023 NFL preseason on Friday night at the Cincinnati Bengals. Follow along all night for updates.

Fourth Quarter

Packers 36, Bengals 19 (9:06 remaining)

Emanuel Wilson is running his way into the 53-man conversation. After breaking a handful of tackles earlier in the game, Wilson was off to the races for an 80-yard touchdown. At right tackle, Rasheed Walker drove his man down the line of scrimmage while tight end Austin Allen battled to stalemate. Safety Marvell Tell filled the hole between Walker and Allen, but Wilson bounced outside and outran safety Larry Brooks for the final 70 yards. Anders Carlson, again, was wide right on the extra point.

Third Quarter

Packers 30, Bengals 19 (2:14 remaining)

What an impressive sequence. Samori Toure returned a kickoff 44 yards to the Bengals’ 47. Then, Sean Clifford hit Malik Heath for 12 yards. Next, Clifford ran for 13 on a read-option behind an absolutely dominant block by Heath against Marvel Tell in which Tell retaliated on the sideline for a penalty. On the next play, Emanuel Wilson rumbled 11 yards for a touchdown. Sean Rhyan pulled, fullback Henry Pearson led the way and Kadeem Telfort had a good block at the point of attack. Anders Carlson yanked the extra point wide right.

Packers 24, Bengals 19 (3:21 remaining)

Evan McPherson blasted his fourth field goal of the night, a 43-yarder. The Bengals got 35 yards on a 20-yard completion to Andrei Iosivas and 15 yards on a roughing-the-passer penalty on linebacker Tariq Carpenter. Carpenter hit Trevor Siemian near the head because Siemian ducked to protect himself from contact. A 21-yard checkdown to Chase Brown moved the ball into the red zone but the Packers stiffened. Outside linebacker Keshawn Banks’ tackle for loss helped set up a third-and-17, with William Hooper giving up the catch to Iosivas in the end zone but driving him out of bounds.

Packers 24, Bengals 16 (7:59 remaining)

Sean Clifford, who was red hot in the first half, missed a wide-open Austin Allen on a second-down bootleg. Thus, Dallin Leavitt’s interception was wasted. At least Anders Carlson got to kick a 45-yard field goal.

Packers 21, Bengals 16 (9:39 remaining)

When your pass rush is stymied, get your hands up. Undrafted rookie Brenton Cox’s rush was stymied and he got his hands up. He deflected veteran Trevor Siemian’s pass to create an interception by Dallin Leavitt. His 6-yard return set up the offense at the Bengals’ 31.

Packers 21, Bengals 16 (11:07 remaining)

A holding penalty by left guard Royce Newman, his second of the night, led to a three-and-out punt. During the drive, right tackle Luke Tenuta sustained an injured ankle when hit from behind on a running play. He was carted off the field. With fellow offensive tackle Caleb Jones (ankle) banged up, undrafted rookie Kadeem Telfort entered at left tackle and Rasheed Walker moved from left tackle to right tackle.

Packers 21, Bengals 16 (13:37 remaining)

After Carrington Valentine broke up three passes in the first half, his tight coverage prevented a completion on third down to force a three-and-out punt.

Halftime

Packers 21, Bengals 16

Jordan Love’s touchdown pass to Romeo Doubs gave the Packers a quick lead. Love played two series before handing the keys to Sean Clifford. The rookie put on a show, for better or worse. He completed 15-of-20 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown. He did throw two interceptions. The Packers piled up 270 yards in the first half. Along with 13 rushing yards, Clifford accounted for 206.

“I thought he looked poised,” coach Matt LaFleur said of Love at halftime. “It looked like he was in total command. All in all, I thought it was a very productive day for him.”

Meanwhile, rookie cornerback Carrington Valentine has three breakups, including one interception.

Second Quarter

Packers 21, Bengals 16 (22 seconds remaining)

On the first play, Sean Clifford threw a bullet to receiver Dontayvion Wicks, with the rookie-to-rookie combo hooking up for a gain of 47 to the 19 that featured 30 yards after the catch. Clifford scrambled for 13 to the 6 before an easy touchdown pass to Tyler Davis, who ran to the goal line, turned around and caught the ball.

Bengals 16, Packers 14 (47 seconds remaining)

After Cincinnati native Sean Clifford threw his second interception, Cincinnati native Carrington Valentine gave the Packers the ball back. Rookie Karl Brooks’ pressure and deflection sailed through the receiver’s hands and into the waiting hands of Valentine. His 17-yard return to the 34 has given the Packers another shot.

Bengals 16, Packers 14 (1:04 remaining)

Sean Clifford made a big-time throw to Dontayvion Wicks for a gain of 19 to convert a third-and-7 – running back Patrick Taylor had a good block in blitz pickup – but was picked off for a second time by safety Tycen Anderson at the Packers’ 36. Clifford’s pass to tight end Tucker Kraft was thrown too far inside, allowing Anderson to get in position for the interception.

Bengals 16, Packers 14 (1:37 remaining)

Evan McPherson struck again with a 39-yard field goal. Two key plays by the defense limited the damage. First, Colby Wooden recognized a screen, retreated and almost intercepted the pass to running back on Chris Evans. Then, on third-and-4, cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles, who’s had a rough training camp, broke up a pass to Kwamie Lassiter.

Packers 14, Bengals 13 (4:49 remaining)

Sean Clifford bounced back from his pick-six with a big-time throw. On third-and-9, he faced pressure, escaped to his left and hit Samori Toure downfield for a scramble-drill gain of 28 at the sideline. However, a holding penalty by Royce Newman, who tackled the defender by the helmet, put the brakes on the drive. Clifford’s fourth-down pass to Malik Heath was broken up.

Packers 14, Bengals 13 (9:16 remaining)

Rookie quarterback Sean Clifford completed six of his first seven passes. The eighth was a disaster. Clifford’s pass to Dontayvion Wicks hit safety Tycen Anderson right in stride for a 43-yard pick-six interception. Bengals defensive tackle Domenique Davis beat right guard Sean Rhyan and was in Clifford’s face on the throw.

Packers 14, Bengals 6 (11:13 remaining)

Evan McPherson blasted a 51-yard field goal. Chris Evans’ 33-yard run was the big play, with missed tackles by Devonte Wyatt and Jonathan Owens turning a gain of 6 or 8 into something much longer. On third-and-2, it appeared rookie cornerback Carrington Valentine arrived on the scene too early but no flag was thrown.

Packers 14, Bengals 3 (14:05 remaining)

With Sean Clifford in at quarterback, the Packers drove 79 yards for the touchdown. On the score, Tyler Goodson cruised in from the 1 behind tremendous blocks by right tackle Caleb Jones, tight end Luke Musgrave and receiver Dontayvion Wicks. Clifford was 4-of-5 passing for 52 yards. Samori Toure had a 25-yard catch and run and Jayden Reed made a leaping grab for 15 to convert a third-and-4. Moments later, Reed got open deep and drew a pass-interference penalty in the end zone for a gain of 23. That set up Goodson’s touchdown. Of note lineup-wise, right guard Jon Runyan moved over to center.

First Quarter

Packers 7, Bengals 3 (3:06 remaining)

A 38-yard field goal by Evan McPherson put the Bengals on the board. There were two big plays – a 14-yard completion Andrei Iosivas on third-and-6 against Corey Ballentine and a 32-yard completion to Trenton Irwin, who was open over the middle, then ran away from starting safety Jonathan Owens. Devonte Wyatt’s second strong pressure of the night foiled the Bengals’ plans on third-and-7 and led to the field goal.

Packers 7, Bengals 0 (7:19 remaining)

Jordan Love’s rainbow pass to Romeo Doubs gave the Packers the opening touchdown. Excellent defense gave Green Bay a short field. Starting at Cincinnati’s 43, Love hit Christian Watson on a quick out for a gain of 7 to convert a third-and-5. AJ Dillon showed excellent patience for a gain of 11 on first-and-15. A 12-yard completion to Doubs on a bootleg set up the score, a 9-yarder over Sidney Jones.

Love was 5-of-6 on the drive. The only incompletion was a tight end screen to Luke Musgrave, a sidearm thrown that was deflected at the line of scrimmage.

Packers 0, Bengals 0 (11:21 remaining)

Keisean Nixon got off to a great start in his new role as slot starter. On first down, he blitzed, defeated Chris Evans and sacked Jake Browning. On third down, he broke up the pass to Stanley Morgan. Justin Hollins and, especially, Devonte Wyatt had strong rushes.

Packers 0, Bengals 0 (12:43 remaining)

Protected by a front of Yosh Nijman, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan and Zach Tom – the starting line, minus David Bakhtiari – Jordan Love hit on a couple easy throws to start with gains of 6 yards to Aaron Jones and 8 yards to Luke Musgrave. However, on second down, Love’s deep shot to Christian Watson was broken up on a marvelous play by safety Dax Hill, who ranged from center field to make a leaping deflection, and on third-and-7, Love threw too high to Musgrave, who would have had a catch-and-run of perhaps 20 yards.

Inactives List

Here’s the inactives list – or Will Not Dress List, in preseason parlance. Nine players are on it, which doesn’t necessarily mean the other 81 will play. It’s just that these nine players are out.

CB Eric Stokes (foot), CB Jaire Alexander (groin), RB Lew Nichols (shoulder), S Innis Gaines (quad), LB Rashan Gary (knee), C/G Jake Hanson (elbow), LT David Bakhtiari (knee; precautionary), TE/FB Josiah Deguara (calf), WR Grant DuBose (back).

Deguara and DuBose returned to practice this week. Alexander had been limited to individual drills the last couple practices. Bakhtiari’s on his own schedule as the team focuses on getting him ready for the season.

“I’m feeling good,” Bakhtiari said after Wednesday’s practice. “For me, personally, we’re just continuing to hit the benchmarks, start loading up more, getting the body more comfortable with it.”

How to Watch: Packers at Bengals

The game, with a kickoff of 6 p.m. (Central) will air live on the Packers TV Network as well as NFL Network. Here’s how to tune into the action.

Most of No. 1 Offense Will Play

The past couple years, Packers coach Matt LaFleur kept most of his offense in bubble wrap for the preseason games. Not this year. While veteran left tackle David Bakhtiari will not play, the Jordan Love-led Packers need as many reps as possible to get ready for the season.

“Like I said many times, it’s not just about Jordan,” LaFleur said on Wednesday. “You look at our receiving corps, there’s not a receiver over a second-year player. You look at the tight ends, I mean, we’ve got two rookies out there. So, I would say it’s the collective, the whole offense in particular, where there is a little bit more inexperience, a little bit more youth, to see kind of where you are at the moment.”

Offense Progressing

This was a key week for the Packers, with a joint practice on Wednesday and Friday’s game. Everyone – including left tackle David Bakhtiari – knew the offense would be a work in progress. Does he sense that unit is making progress?

“This is, what, Week 3 [of training camp],” Bakhtiari replied. “We’ve still got a lot of time, a lot of work to go. Any positives, great, but we got to make sure we sustain those. It’s only been three weeks. And then any negatives, we have so much time to clean those things up. I can even say personally for me, I’m still knocking off rust, kind of getting my feet in, adding my load as my week starts coming on. So, treating camp how it’s supposed to be treated, which is to load us to get us ready for Week 1. That’s the most important thing.”

Jordan Love (Photo by Carter Skaggs/USA Today Sports Images)

Busy Week Coming Up

The Packers will take Saturday off and hold a closed practice on Sunday afternoon. After that, it’s a 10:30 practice on Monday before joint practices against the Patriots on Wednesday and Thursday (times TBA) leading into Saturday’s preseason game against New England at Lambeau Field (7 p.m.)