A couple of receivers make strong cases while the starting defense is once again woeful in 31-17 win over the Commanders.

With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Joe Burrow has a pair of standout receivers to target in the passing game. But the quarterback is backing another player that is fighting for a roster spot, one who put on a show Monday night against the Washington Commanders.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow played three series to open Monday night's game against the Commanders and the final possession saw him sharing the field with a different supporting cast.

Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks from LSU, headlined the “Monday Night Football” matchup in the second preseason game for each team.

"Well Jake Browning, he comes in now," Troy Aikman said during the broadcast. "He takes over. Oh, excuse me. No Burrow, he's back in."

Burrow’s preference comes through in the answer. It’s “great” to get the deals done early, like the Bengals did with Higgins and Chase. And while the NFL is a deadline-driven business, the deadline when a player is holding in shouldn’t be Week 1. It should be tied to the practical deadline for getting the player ready to go for Week 1.

It's not an elementary concept, but Cincinnati Bengals rookie pass rusher Shemar Stewart got issued a stern reminder after he and star QB Joe Burrow were involved in a skirmish at Bengals camp Wednesday.