Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mackensie Alexander was arrested Tuesday for battery after allegedly confronting the man who left his father, Jean Odney Alexandre, behind on a berry-picking trip. His father remains missing after his disappearance Monday.

Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported the update Wednesday and noted Alexander remains in custody in Collier County, Florida.

TMZ Sports later reported Alexander and Evins Clement "showed up to an Immokalee, FL residence to interrogate a man about a 'prior incident.'"

TMZ shared details from police documents outlining the alleged encounter that led to the arrest:

"In the docs, cops say Alexander and Clement tried to get the man to leave with them in their car ... but they say the man refused, 'due to fear of retaliation from the prior incident.'

"Officers say that's when Alexander 'threatened the victim that he had a firearm in his vehicle if the victim continued to refuse to go with them.'

"Cops say when the alleged victim continued to refuse ... they say Clement grabbed the man and held him down while Alexander punched him with a closed fist in the face repeatedly."

Officers say both Alexander and Clement then fled the scene when they heard cops' sirens approaching.

Alexander left Bengals' training camp to travel to Florida.

His father and another man traveled to Okeechobee County to pick palmetto berries on the prairie, but the other man left without Alexandre, who hasn't been seen since, per Pelissero.

Authorities in both Collier County and Okeechobee County along with the Florida Wildlife Commission have been searching for the NFL player's father since Monday night.

No further details were made available.

Alexander was born in Naples, Florida. He attended Immokalee High School in the state before going to Clemson in South Carolina to play college football.

He was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He spent his first four pro seasons with the organization before leaving in free agency to join the Bengals in March.

Alexander was competing for Cincinnati's No. 2 corner job opposite William Jackson III when he left camp. Torry McTyer and Greg Mabin lead the group that will fill the void until his return.

Joe Burrow had no OTAs, no rookie camp and minimal physical interaction with his NFL coaching staff since becoming the No. 1 overall draft pick in April. 

He's apparently impressing his new Cincinnati Bengals teammates just fine without it. Head coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Tuesday that Burrow has already reinvigorated the offense.

"You want your quarterback to be the hardest worker on the team and an extension of the coaching staff," Taylor said. "He fits both those descriptions for us right now. He really breathes life into this offense, into this team."

No coach—and certainly no second-year head coach—is going to come right out and say anything less than stellar about a player selected with the top pick only months ago. Not when preparation is more vital than ever and egos are too valuable to deflate. So it's worth looking at the ways in which Taylor compliments the rookie starter.

Still, there seems to be plenty of reason for the hype surrounding the former LSU star, and the coach isn't concerned about having named him the starter before training camp even began.

"He's done nothing since he's been in the building or on the field to make us second-guess any of those decisions, in terms of taking him or making him the starting quarterback from day one," Taylor said.

The real second-guessing will have to wait until September 14, the day after the Bengals open their season at home against the Los Angeles Chargers. 

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mackensie Alexander reportedly left training camp after his father went missing on Monday.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the news, noting the Okeechobee County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office is searching for Jean Odney Alexandre. 

Pelissero explained Alexandre "came to northwest Okeechobee County with another man Monday to pick palmetto berries somewhere on the prairie, and the other man left Alexandre behind, per the sheriff's office."

CBS 12 News noted search parties include K9 teams, the Florida Wildlife Commission, helicopters from the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office and four-wheelers.

Alexander entered the NFL out of Clemson as a second-round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2016. He played the first four years of his career on the Vikings.

The Bengals signed him to a one-year deal this offseason.

Cincinnati Bengals receiver John Ross III is set to return to the team after leaving training camp earlier this month:

Ross left after his son and the boy's mother both tested positive for the coronavirus, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and will have to go through the protocol to rejoin his teammates, including having multiple negative tests.

The 25-year-old is heading into the final year of his rookie contract after the Bengals declined his fifth-year option.

Ross had high expectations as the No. 9 pick in 2017, but he had zero catches in just three appearances during his rookie year and has seen inconsistent playing time since then. He played eight games in 2019, which was shortened because of a sternoclavicular injury.

He has played well when given the chance, scoring seven touchdowns in 2018 before totaling 506 receiving yards in just half a season last year. His 18.1 yards per reception would have ranked fourth in the NFL with enough catches to qualify.

However, he could struggle to get playing time in 2020, with A.J. Green returning after missing all of 2019 because of an ankle injury. Tyler Boyd also returns, while rookie second-round pick Tee Higgins should fight for playing time immediately.

Ross might have significant ground to make up after missing more than a week of practices.

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Trae Waynes recently underwent surgery for a torn pectoral muscle and will miss a "sizable portion" of the upcoming season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Though the timetable for his return is unknown, he has a "chance" to return before the end of the season. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network originally reported the cornerback would miss two months with the injury.

Waynes signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Bengals that includes $20 million in salary for the 2020 season.

The 28-year-old was brought in to help improve a Bengals defense that ranked 29th in the NFL in yards allowed and 31st in passing yards allowed per attempt in 2019.

Waynes started every game he played over the past three years with the Minnesota Vikings, appearing in 74 games over his five years after being taken 11th overall in the 2015 draft. He finished last season with 58 tackles, adding two forced fumbles and one interception.

The injury leaves Cincinnati thin at cornerback, especially after moving on from long-time contributors Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard. B.W. Webb also remains a free agent after starting 12 games for the team last year.

William Jackson III will start for Cincinnati, but there are major question marks elsewhere at cornerback. Mackensie Alexander, Darius Phillips and Greg Mabin could compete for playing time until Waynes is cleared to return.

The Cincinnati Bengals placed wide receiver John Ross III on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Ross' son and the son's mother tested positive for COVID-19. Ross is leaving the Bengals' training camp and traveling to Los Angeles to care for his son.

The 25-year-old is heading into his fourth season with the Bengals, who selected him ninth overall in the 2017 draft. Cincinnati declined his fifth-year option in May, which will make him a free agent next offseason.

The move spoke to how his tenure has fallen short of expectations.

Ross has caught 49 passes for 716 yards and 10 touchdowns in 24 career games. He missed a large chunk of last season because of a shoulder injury.

Perhaps Ross could play himself into a lucrative contract in 2020, although he looks likely to have a limited role in the Bengals' passing game.

A.J. Green signed his franchise tender to keep him in Cincinnati for at least one more year, while the team selected Clemson wideout Tee Higgins in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft. Tyler Boyd also delivered solid numbers in Green's absence last season (90 receptions, 1,046 yards and five touchdowns) to solidify his place in the slot.

Free-agent defensive tackle Mike Daniels is reportedly visiting the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter added the veteran is "expected" to sign a deal if the trip goes well.

Daniels spent last season with the Detroit Lions, but he was limited to just nine games while dealing with foot and arm injuries. He is best known for his seven years with the Green Bay Packers, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2017.

In his first six years in the NFL, Daniels missed just two of 96 regular-season games while totaling 27 sacks as an interior defensive lineman. He started every game he played from 2014 to 2017.

Injuries started being a problem in 2018, and he's missed 13 games in the past two seasons.

Despite the issues, he said in January that he was healthy.

"I feel good," Daniels said, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "So I'm excited to get things rolling, see what happens."

It would be worth the risk for Cincinnati, which needs help defensively after ranking 29th in yards allowed in 2019. Adding to the defensive line became an even bigger priority after Josh Tupou opted out of the 2020 season.

Even after the Bengals added D.J. Reader this offseason, Daniels could see significant playing time if he does join the team.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon is reportedly seeking a contract extension that puts him among the "eight highest-paid" players at the position.

Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported the update Monday and provided comments from Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin about the potential to get a deal done before the 2020 season gets underway in September.

"Joe is an important part of our team. He's a piece that we'd like to get extended and have around here a long time," Tobin said. "Typically, our extensions have gotten done during camp at some point."

Mixon has rushed for over 1,100 yards in each of the past two seasons, and his 2,888 yards from scrimmage over that span ranks eighth among NFL running backs, per Pro Football Reference.

"Joe's been a great player for us. We want him around here. We know what he is. He came in and earned it," Tobin said Monday. "He's a guy that we're proud of. Regardless of what's in the draft next year or what's in free agency, we know that Joe's a piece that we want. We'll work to see if that can come together."

Mixon is set to enter the final season of his four-year, $5.5 million rookie contract, which includes a $1.2 base salary for 2020.

The New York Giants' Saquon Barkley owns the eighth-highest average salary among running backs at $7.8 million, per Spotrac. The Carolina Panthers' Christian McCaffrey sits atop the list with a $16 million average salary after signing a four-year, $64 million extension in April.

In December, Mixon told reporters he wanted to become a "Bengal for life" but said he also understood it takes two sides to make a deal.

"I just hope I've put up enough tape for them to believe in me to want me back, you know what I'm saying? I don't know their thought process," he said. "If I did, I mean, I'd love to. At the end of the day, no matter what happens, I know I gave my all out there. I know what kind of back I am. I hope they know."

The Bengals selected Mixon in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft out of the University of Oklahoma.

He's set to lead a Cincinnati backfield that will also see Giovani Bernard as a consistent contributor as part of a high-upside offense led by first overall pick Joe Burrow. A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, John Ross III and Tee Higgins headline one of the league's most explosive pass-catching groups.

Burrow's development has been slowed by the elimination of on-field activities throughout the offseason because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Bengals offense should steadily improve throughout the year as the reigning Heisman Trophy winner becomes more comfortable, though.

A key question will be whether Mixon remains among the talented group for 2021 and beyond.

Joe Burrow officially joined the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday by signing his rookie contract, but the 2020 No. 1 overall pick isn't planning a big spending spree with that money to celebrate.

The quarterback told reporters he plans to live off the money he makes from marketing deals and let the contract earnings "accrue in my bank account":

The Bengals tweeted out a picture of Burrow as he signed his contract to become an official member of the organization:

He was one of two remaining unsigned first-round draft picks entering this week. Offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson of the Tennessee Titans (No. 29 overall) has yet to sign.

"I would say the feeling is just relief," Burrow said about signing his contract. "It's been a long time since I got drafted."

According to Spotrac, the rookie deal is worth $36.2 million over four years. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner will receive his full $23.9 million signing bonus within 15 days of signing his contract.

Burrow has signed endorsement deals with Lowe's, Bose and Fanatics. The former LSU star could increase his portfolio significantly if he becomes the player everyone expects him to be.

The odds seem to be in Burrow's favor after he set an FBS record with 60 touchdown passes in 2019 to help the Tigers win the national championship.

Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow said Friday he absorbed a lot of information from a conversation with five-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning about life as a first overall draft pick.

Burrow explained the former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos superstar agreed the situation he entered with Indy in 1998 is similar to the one the Heisman Trophy winner inherits in Cincy.

"I couldn't have appreciated that more," Burrow told reporters. "He took about an hour of his time and explained the ins and outs of what he went through."

The LSU product added: "He just gave me a lot of different advice."

The Colts were coming off a 3-13 season when they selected Manning. His debut campaign didn't suggest he would go on to become one of the greatest players in NFL history. The Tennessee product completed just 56.7 percent of his throws with 26 touchdowns and a rookie-record 28 interceptions in 16 games.

Indianapolis went 3-13 again that season before turning the corner in 1999, when it went 13-3 to win its first division title since 1987. Manning was a second-team All-Pro that season and was named to his first Pro Bowl.

In April before the draft, Manning discussed his conversation with Burrow on ESPN's SportsCenter.

"He called me about some of the things that I tried to do as a rookie that maybe he can apply to his NFL career," he said. "Looks like it's going to be for the Cincinnati Bengals. What I told him, 'Look, Joe, if you're the first pick in the NFL draft, you are going to a team that has earned the first pick in the NFL draft. There are going to be some holes there. There's a reason the Colts were picking No. 1 that year. There's a reason the Bengals are picking No. 1 this year.'"

The 14-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time Super Bowl champion noted the important part is learning from mistakes as a rookie so he can "really get it going the year or two after that."

Burrow's development has been further complicated by the coronavirus pandemic, which moved the offseason program into a virtual format and led to the cancellation of the preseason.

Cincinnati does have a strong group of playmakers in running back Joe Mixon and wide receivers A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, John Ross III and 2020 second-round pick Tee Higgins. They should give the Ohio native a chance to pick up some serious steam as his rookie year goes on.

Manning's career arc shows you don't have to post Hall of Fame-level numbers as a rookie in order to find massive long-term success.