‘Bad Idea’: Multiple Cincinnati Bengals Players Carted Off of Wet Chicago Bears Practice Field

The Chicago Bears hosted the Cincinnati Bengals for a joint practice Thursday as the two teams prepare for the upcoming 2024 season.

The practice resulted in multiple Bengals players being carted off the wet practice field amid a rainy day in Chicago.

The Cincinnati Bengals lost two depth pieces to practice injury

Bengals running back Chirs Evans and offensive tackle D’ante Smith were both carted off of the wet Bears practice field during the two teams’ joint practice Thursday.

Smith was behind new free agency acquisition Zack Moss and young up-and-coming running back Chase Brown on the depth chart.

Smith provided much-needed depth to a Bengals offensive line that has been gravely affected by a lack of offensive line depth in the last few years. Both Smith and Evans were carted off, but it the severity of their injuries is unclear.

The Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals practiced in the rain

Despite weather reports that Thursday in Chicago would make for a wet, potentially unsafe practice field, the Bengals and the Bears decided to have practice outside.

The Bears have an indoor practice facility, Halas Hall, but it was not put into use for the joint practice with the Bengals. It is unclear as to whether this decision came from the Bears organization or a joint decision between the two staffs.

Bears reporter Sean Hammond explained that the two teams would have a go at an outside practice, implying there was a decision-making process taking place up until the last minute.

Sounds like the Bears and Bengals are going to try to practice outside. Practice doesn’t start until 1 p.m. We shall see.

With no fans in attendance, we will not be allowed to tweet until after practice. pic.twitter.com/wXqP6Q7f6X

— Sean Hammond (@sean_hammond) August 15, 2024

The Bengals were the only non-California team in the NFL without an indoor practice facility for years. Their lack of an indoor facility was a main talking point when discussing the Bengals’ unwillingness to spend money as an organization.

Many Bengals fans thought they had no chance of competing with the rest of the NFL when they continually refused to build an indoor practice facility. Former Bengals coach Marvin Lewis explained the disadvantage practicing outside creates in an article from the Cincinnati Enquirer.

“The biggest advantage,” former Bengals coach Marvin Lewis told me, “is when the weather is severe. Nothing gets done.”

“And,” he added, “you’re exposing your players to sickness in that kind of wet, cold and inclement weather.”

There are certainly some benefits to practicing in inclement weather situations as there will inevitably be games played in inclement weather, but it is hard to gauge whether it is worth it when several players could potentially endure season-altering injuries.

Cincinnati Bengals fans are upset at the lack of use of the Chicago Bears indoor facility

Many Bengals fans took to social media to express their concern for the Cincinnati players who had to practice outside in the rain.

Many are questioning why the Bears and the Bengals did not use the indoor facility. Other fans are not upset that the joint practice was held outside as there will be football played in potentially wet weather during the season.

Seemed like a bad idea to practice in the rain.

— DruQuigley (@DruQuigley) August 15, 2024

Why on earth were they practicing in those conditions?

— Joe Spare (@joespare) August 15, 2024

I’m just glad they don’t play games in inclement weather….

— WhoDeySteve (@andhesonit51) August 15, 2024

Why are we practicing in the pouring rain?! #bengals #RuleTheJungle

— BengalsALLDEY (@BengalsALLDEY) August 15, 2024

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