Next game
Who: Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) at Dallas Cowboys (1-2)
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: AT&T Stadium, Dallas
TV: Chs. 12, 45
Radio: WCKY-AM (1530), WEBN-FM (102.7), WTUE-FM (104.7)
George Iloka’s mistake could be Taylor Mays’ break.
Iloka, the listed starter at strong safety on the Cincinnati Bengals depth chart, suffered a hand injury last week, and Tuesday night’s episode of Hard Knocks revealed that it happened when he punched rookie teammate Jordan Campbell in the helmet following a punt play.
“It’s probably the most regretful thing I ever did, and I’ve done some dumb things,” said Iloka, a second-year player from Boise State. “I’m mad at myself that I let the emotions get the best of me for like three to five seconds. That can alter a lot. But it’s done with, and I’ve just got to heal and get back and play well.”
Iloka’s right hand is in a splint, and while he was dressed for practice Wednesday, it’s likely he will miss his second consecutive preseason game when the Bengals travel to Dallas on Saturday.
That creates an opportunity for Taylor Mays, a fourth-year player from USC, and Shawn Williams, the rookie third-round pick from Georgia.
Mays, who is listed as the backup to Iloka, also was featured on Hard Knocks both as an eccentric character – he played Barbie Uno with his girlfriend, showed off his Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles backpack and accompanying collection of masks and pontificated on what would be the ideal superhero power – and as an inconsistent player.
“I don’t know if it was summed up really accurately,” Mays said. “There’s obviously truth to that. It’s football. I don’t really expect myself to play perfect. I just expect myself to get better. I feel like I’m better than I was last year. Every day I get more comfortable. Regardless of how other people see that, it doesn’t really bother me.”
Bengals defensive back Mark Carrier agreed that Mays, who started three of the first four games last year before being relegated to backup duty when the team signed Chris Crocker off the street, has shown improvement. But Carrier also said the inconsistency label is warranted.
“We’ve talked about it,” Carrier said. “It’s not always about making a great play. It’s just making the consistent play of being in the right place, right position and doing your job. He’s a great example of someone who over does it sometimes, over-thinks it and does too much that sometimes gets him out of position.
“I understand this from my own experience, that sometimes a player just wants to impress everybody and you always want to go make the big play,” Carrier, a former Chicago Bears standout, continued. “A lot of times the big play will come just from you doing your job. That’s what he has to learn. Sometimes doing your job is just being in the right place, and when the time comes to make the play, make your play.”
Iloka said he expects to be back before the Sept. 8 opener in Chicago, but that could be enough time for Mays or Williams to do enough to warrant moving up the depth chart. Both played a large number of snaps in Saturday’s win against Tennessee, with Williams logging a team-high 10 tackles.
“You forget sometimes that he has been here only five months,” Carrier said.
Watching Williams and Mays get all the reps while he sits on the sidelines has been the hardest part of the injury, Iloka said.
“The first two days, I had evil thoughts running through my head,” he said. “I was pissed off, and I’ve got to control that side of me. I can’t let it get the best of me. I immediately knew I was wrong.
“I knew I was wrong in terms of just letting a lot of people down, guys that count on me, and putting everybody in a tough position,” Iloka added. “I’m not concerned about it in terms of this being a lasting effect. I’ll heal, come back, play well and it will be an afterthought to everybody.”
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