Amarius Mims Establishes Himself as Elite Pass-Blocker as Bengals Navigate Injuries and Special Teams Errors
Cincinnati Bengals right tackle Amarius Mims has emerged as one of the NFL’s top pass protectors after limiting pressures through 111 snaps, Pro Football Focus reported Monday. According to Pro Football Focus, Mims ranked as the second-best pass-blocking right tackle among players with at least 100 pass-blocking snaps and sixth overall among tackles. The PFF rankings use a minimum-snap threshold to gauge performance, a standard that highlighted Mims after he allowed nothing Sunday against Steelers All-Pro T.J. Watt on most of Watt’s 57 snaps.
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher praised Mims’ technique and said the right tackle has the traits of a special player. Head coach Zac Taylor echoed the praise while warning against complacency, saying, “T.J. is a heck of a player. We are not going to fall asleep on that.” Mims said he welcomes the weekly challenge of facing elite edge rushers and that the team will prepare him to match up with Jacksonville’s Travon Walker this Sunday at Paycor Stadium.
Taylor ruled out rookie wide receiver Cobie Young after he suffered a knee injury on the game’s opening snap. Taylor said he is unsure about the status of safeties Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger and hopes for clarity Wednesday. Taylor also said he does not have a timeline for Young’s return. Andrei Iosivas remains on injured reserve, leaving the Bengals thin behind starters Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Rookie Dohnte Meyers saw an expanded role with Young out and played a career-high 32 snaps, catching three passes for 29 yards on five targets. Meyers’ 23-yard catch-and-run converted a third-and-two and helped fuel the opening touchdown drive. Three snaps after that first down, Meyers was called for a false start, which he called a mental error and said he will clean up. As he left the locker room Monday, Meyers carried Atomic Habits, which he said he is rereading to maintain the habits that help him prepare.
Special teams miscues factored into the 30-27 loss. Ke’Shawn Williams fumbled a punt at the Steelers’ 14 that led to a field goal, and defensive end Cedric Johnson drew a roughing-the-punter penalty on an earlier play that resulted in a Pittsburgh touchdown. Special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons said the staff will weigh returner duties carefully to protect both player confidence and the team’s best chance to win. Pro Football Focus ranked Cincinnati’s special teams unit as the NFL’s best in 2024 and No. 4 last season.
Offensive guard Dalton Risner accepted responsibility for the final play that ended the game, when a sack-strip of quarterback Joe Burrow sealed the defeat. Risner called the play “a tough pill to swallow” and said he will “go back to the drawing board” after what he described as an otherwise strong performance by the offensive line. The line still opened lanes on the ground, as Chase Brown carried 13 times for a 4.7-yard average, and teammates praised tight end Erick All Jr. for hustling to try to recover the final fumble.
After dressing for the game, edge Shemar Stewart did not play Sunday as the club continues to manage his workload following a late start to practice. Taylor said Stewart has “really started practicing three weeks ago” and is “nine practices in,” and that there will be moments to get him more involved. The coach added that Stewart has a good attitude and effort, and that his snap count could grow from a small number to 25-30 in future games as he gains more in-game repetitions. The staff will continue to monitor his progress and find opportunities to increase his role.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Amarius Mims’ early-season pass-protection numbers represent a meaningful development for the Bengals’ offensive line and could provide a long-term answer at right tackle. His PFF-backed performance against a premier rusher like T.J. Watt suggests Cincinnati can trust him in high-leverage matchups, but the team must preserve that progress with consistent protections and line play. Injuries at receiver and uncertainty in the secondary increase the importance of stable special teams play; the fumbled punt and roughing-the-punter penalty directly affected the outcome and may prompt changes in return responsibilities. If the Bengals avoid late-game breakdowns and manage workloads for players such as Shemar Stewart, they will improve their chances to turn close games into wins as they prepare for Jacksonville’s pass rush this week.