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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Zach Kruse

Live updates and highlights from Packers’ preseason opener vs. Bengals

Packers Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals are kicking off the 2023 preseason schedule on Friday night at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.

Starters on offense and defense, including quarterback Jordan Love, are expected to play at least a few series. While an exhibition game, Friday night against the Bengals marks the first on-field experience of the Love era in Green Bay.

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Stick with Packers Wire for all the updates and highlights from the contest:

FINAL: Packers 36, Bengals 19

Packers clinch win

The Packers turned over the Bengals on down with under two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, clinching the 36-19 win at Paycor Stadium. Matt LaFleur’s team gained 437 yards and outgained the Bengals by almost 150 yards. While the Packers had three turnovers, the Bengals didn’t have an offensive touchdown.

McGough fumbles

Alex McGough’s first series ended with a sack-fumble, giving the Bengals the ball back near midfield. The USFL MVP is competing to be the backup quarterback, but he appears far behind rookie Sean Clifford, who played the majority of the snaps once Jordan Love departed.

Carlson misses another extra point

After making his first four kicks, including three extra points, rookie kicker Anders Carlson has pushed each of the last two extra points wide right. Back-to-back misses on PATs will ruin what could have been an excellent night for the Packers kicker. Inconsistency has been an issue all camp.

Hello, Emanuel Wilson!

Have a night, Emanuel Wilson. The undrafted rookie running back raced 80 yards down the far sideline for a touchdown. Good vision, impressive speed. Wilson now has six carries, 111 yards and two touchdowns in his preseason debut.

Clifford out, McGough in

Sean Clifford’s preseason debut is over. Although he was intercepted twice, the rookie also completed 20 passes and threw a touchdown pass. He was solid. USFL MVP Alex McGough will finish out the game at quarterback for the Packers.

Another injury: Ballentine leaves with stinger

The injuries are starting to pile up on the Packers. Backup cornerback and special teamer Corey Ballentine exited the game with a stinger in the third quarter.

Big return from Toure sets up Wilson TD

After a Bengals field goal cut the lead to 24-19, Packers receiver Samori Toure returned the ensuing kickoff 44 yards down the far sideline, giving Sean Clifford terrific field position once again. He hit Malik Heath for a completion and a keeper for 13 yards, setting up Emanuel Wilson’s 11-yard touchdown run. Anders Carlson missed the extra point.

Tyler Davis exits with a knee injury

Tyler Davis, who caught a touchdown pass in the second quarter, exited with a knee injury. He was tackled low on a catch and had an ackward landing to start the second half. This is an injury to monitor considering the Packers’ lack of depth at tight end.

Carlson field goal

Anders Carlson made his first three extra points before connecting on a 45-yard field goal with 7:59 left in the third quarter, extending the Packers lead to 24-16. Carlson’s kick was right down the middle. This has been a strong preseason debut for the rookie kicker. The scoring drive was set up by Dallin Leavitt’s interception.

Cox creates interception for Leavitt

Undrafted rookie edge rusher Brenton Cox Jr. tipped a pass and created an interception for safety Dallin Leavitt on the deflection early in the third quarter. Cox came inside on a stunt, got his hands up at the right time and helped produce the takeaway.

Cart coming off for Luke Tenuta

A potentially bad injury for Luke Tenuta, who is competing for a roster spot at offensive tackle. Appears to be a lower right leg injury. The Packers are down two offensive tackles to injuries: Tenuta and Caleb Jones. The team is calling it an ankle injury.

Injury updates

Two injuries for the Packers at half time: Tyler Goodson has a shoulder injury, and Caleb Jones injured his ankle.

Sean Clifford to Tyler Davis touchdown

Clifford finished a four-play, 66-yard scoring drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Davis with 22 seconds left in the first half. The drive began with Carrington Valentine’s interception and was sparked by Clifford hitting Dontayvion Wicks for 47 yards. Clifford also scrambled for 13 yards to set up the touchdown. This has been a highly entertaining first half in Cincinnati.

Interception from Carrington Valentine

A terrific first half for Packers rookie Carrington Valentine will end with an interception. Valentine caught a bobbled pass just one play after the Bengals intercepted Sean Clifford with just over a minute left. The rookie has gotten his hands on at least three passes in his preseason debut.

Clifford throws second interception

Sean Clifford was intercepted for a second time by Tycen Anderson, this time on an attempt to Tucker Kraft over the middle. Kraft appeared to lose the contested catch opportunity. Two plays before, Clifford delivered a strike against a blitz to convert a 3rd-and-long.

Bengals take first lead

The Bengals took their first lead of the night on another field goal from Evan McPherson. His 39-yarder with 1:37 left in the first half gave the Bengals a 16-14 advantage. Cincinnati’s scoring drive was 38 yards after the Packers turned the ball over on downs.

Terrific throw from Clifford to Toure

Sean Clifford and Samori Toure have connected for a few big plays in this first half. This was one was especially good on 3rd-and-long. The drive ended up stalling out on fourth down inside Bengals territory.

Clifford throws pick-six

A missed block by Sean Rhyan at right guard led to big pressure on Packers quarterback Sean Clifford, who threw a pick-six to Tycen Anderson on an attempt to Dontayvion Wicks over the middle.

Nice catch by Reed

Clifford leads TD drive, Goodson scores

On his first series, rookie Sean Clifford led the Packers 79 yards in eight plays to extend the lead to 14-3. Clifford hit Samori Toure 25 yards, Malik Heath for nine yards and Jayden Reed for 15 yards, and a pass interference penalty drawn by Reed near the end zone set up Tyler Goodson’s short touchdown run.

Bengals get on the board, but Valentine produces

The Bengals went on an 8-play, 57-yard drive to set up a field goal. A 34-yard completion from Jake Browning set up the score. Packers rookie cornerback Carrington Valentine made a stop for no gain and helped break up two different passes on the drive.

Love to Doubs for the first preseason TD

Jordan Love hit Romeo Doubs for the first touchdown of the 2022 preseason. The pair connected once again for the first score of the 2023 preseason. Love completed five passes on the scoring drive, including a third-down conversion to Christian Watson.

Sack for Keisean Nixon

On the first play from scrimmage for the Bengals, Keisean Nixon came on a nickel blitz and made the sack on quarterback Jake Browning. The play killed Cincinnati’s drive, forcing a punt. First up on punt returns: Rookie Jayden Reed.

Packers punt on first series

Jordan Love hit Aaron Jones and Luke Musgrave to move the sticks but misses to Christian Watson deep and then Musgrave (who was wide open) over the middle stalled the drive. All four reads looked very good for Love, but his accuracy is still sporadic. Speedy Bengals safety Dax Hill made a great play on the deep ball to Watson, but Love straight up missed Musgrave on what should have been an easy big play.

Packers sitting nine players

Jordan Love will start for the Packers at quarterback. Matt LaFleur will be without only nine players, including David Bakhtiari and Jaire Alexander. Kenny Clark warmed up but won’t play.

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