CLNS Media
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • Betting
  • NBA History
  • Podcasts
    • A List Podcast
    • Almost Shameless
    • Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast
    • Bruins Beat
    • Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman
    • Cedric Maxwell Podcast
    • Celtics Beat
    • Celtics Lab
    • Celtics Stuff Live
    • Celtics Postgame Live
    • Dome Theory with Bobby Manning
    • The Garden Report
    • Greg Bedard’s Patriots Podcast
    • Patriots Beat
    • Patriots Postgame Show
    • Patriots Roundtable
    • Patriots Press Pass
    • Poke the Bear
    • Red Sox Beat
    • Winning Plays
    • View All Podcasts
  • About
    • About CLNS
    • Our Sponsors
    • Talent
    • Job Opportunities
    • Join Our Network
    • Advertise With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok Discord
CLNS Media
Join The Network Subscribe
  • Home
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • Betting
  • NBA History
  • Podcasts
    • podcast
      • A List Podcast
      • Almost Shameless
      • Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast
      • Bruins Beat
      • Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman
      • Cedric Maxwell Podcast
      • Celtics Beat
    • podcast
      • Celtics Lab
      • Celtics Postgame Live
      • Dome Theory with Bobby Manning
      • The Garden Report
      • Greg Bedard’s Patriots Podcast
      • Patriots Beat
    • podcast
      • Patriots Postgame Show
      • Pats Interference
      • Poke the Bear
      • Red Sox Beat
      • Winning Plays
      • View All Podcasts
  • About
    • About CLNS
    • Our Sponsors
    • Talent
    • Job Opportunities
    • Join Our Network
    • Advertise With Us
CLNS Media
Home » Bengals Beat: How Chido Awuzie Leads With Class And Dignity In Adversity, And Why It Matters Going Forward
Bengals Coverage

Bengals Beat: How Chido Awuzie Leads With Class And Dignity In Adversity, And Why It Matters Going Forward

Awuzie says he will feed into Bengals "love of competition" in locker room.
Mike PetragliaBy Mike Petraglia11/04/20226 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Chido Awuzie (22) will have to provide his fire and leadership from the sideline after a season-ending knee injury.
Share
Facebook Twitter Email

CINCINNATI — Even before he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his right knee on Monday in Cleveland, Chido Awuzie was already considered one of the emotional leaders in a locker room filled with them.

All you needed to see as proof of that was the parade of players and coaches who, in the middle of a tense first half where things weren’t going well, stop by inside the blue medical tent and wish him well.

“I didn’t realize a lot of people were coming in there, to be honest,” Awuzie said. “I was crying. I was crying. Covering my face. I didn’t even know who was in there. I know Coach Lou came in. Mike (Hilton), Mike Thomas. Tre Flowers.

“And after people were telling they came in, I was, ‘Like man, they must have been really respectful because I didn’t know they were there. I was crying. I have a great set of teammates here. That’s the way everybody is. Good brothers to each other. Go to war with each other. We’re emotionally tied to each other.”

Trending
The Patriots Revamped Coaching Staff May Be Starting to Take Place

Every single coach and teammate that took time out Monday knew how big of a loss Awuzie would be in the secondary.

But Awuzie, speaking for the first time since his diagnosis with doctors and medical staff, committed to staying around the locker room and in meetings to help his replacements fill in the best they can and stabilize a secondary that hopes to be part of a playoff push in the second half.

Chido Awuzie admits he lost track of everyone going into the medical tent Monday. “Just great teammates here. Good brothers to each other.” #Bengals pic.twitter.com/GupUZbQhEz

— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 3, 2022

That means helping rookies Dax Hill and Cam Taylor-Britt feel comfortable as more responsibility is thrust in their direction.

“It’s beautiful. We all and they all knew too that they’re gonna have the opportunity to play and we’re gonna need them like we do right now,” Awuzie said. “When I was a rookie, it was injuries that brought me into the game very early. I was supposed to be the dime cornerback and in on some 3rd downs. All of a sudden, I was playing at corner. So, I know exactly where they are. They’re blessed with great veterans on this team. I know they’re gonna do their thing.

“I already talked to Dax. He reminds me a lot of when I was a rookie because I was playing safety, corner, nickel, dime, everything. I just had to learn every position and, you know, his moment and athletic ability all that stuff is just about making everything as simple as possible. I think with Cam, it’s the same thing with his athletic ability. I came into the league as a rookie with the same thing. He’s able to pick up on concepts really quickly. I think with them two and the rest of our young guys, it’s about making the game simple, so it slows down out there and you’re responding.”

That infectious smile Awuzie possesses will be around before and after his upcoming surgery.

“(I) plan to play chess, plan to do a lot of things,” Awuzie said. “Number one obviously is staying involved with this team as much as I can. Now I’m going home a little earlier now, they don’t want me out there on the practice field and can get ran into and stuff like that. Want to expand my interests, dive into my interests while also being locked in with the guys here.”

The season-ending injury happened when Awuzie planted his right leg and turned quickly while in coverage on his good friend Amari Cooper.

“Honestly, I don’t know what happened in that moment,” Awuzie said. “I broke on the ball against Amari and when I looked back to see if he caught or dropped it, my knee did whatever it did and I hit the ground. I think a lot of people can tell I’m not used to not being able to walk, so I immediately tried to run off the field because that’s my instinct. Just get off the field.

“Just try to get back in the game. When I got back to the sideline I was thinking it might be something minor. Then they told me what they told me. Just a different experience.

Awuzie was hoping he dodged a bullet when he first got to the sideline, hopping off the field as best he could.

“When I got in the blue tent, they did the little test and I thought I did the test pretty well,” Awuzie said. “With the adrenaline going, you can’t really tell what’s what at times. Your emotions. Your energy is so high and then when they told me it’s a torn ACL and whatever else, I got really emotional.”

Now Awuzie must focus on getting mentally ready for surgery and then the rehab work that is in store after the reconstruction.

“Surgery will be in about two weeks,” he said. “When the swelling goes down. I’m learning a lot about knee injuries. I’ve never really been injured before. I’ve been hurt before, but I’ve never been injured. This is all new to me.

After getting over the pain of the injury, Awuzie is determined to support the team and lift spirits up, something he was already uniquely qualified to do before Monday’s mishap. Whether it’s in the film room, at practice, or just in the locker room offering ping pong advice, Awuzie intends on remaining present.

“I just think we are such a competitive team, honestly,” Awuzie said. “As you hear the ping pong balls, (people) know how competitive guys are. Everything in life. I have been on teams where as soon as the day is over you go home or a break like this you go take a break, go home. People are still trying to compete, compete, compete, compete. It’s a love of competition. That’s what it boils down to.

“Everyone is trying to compete with each other. We have a great group of guys that have character and have this competitive spirit. When you have guys doing it the right way it make take some time, but after time it is going to pan out to be what it is supposed to be. I’m hoping however they need me I can be a part of it and they keep the train rolling.”

Cam Taylor-Britt Carolina Panthers Chido Awuzie Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dax Hill Eli Apple Ja'Marr Chase Jalen Davis Jessie Bates Joe Burrow Joe Mixon La'El Collins Mike Hilton New Orleans Saints NFL Trey Hendrickson Vonn Bell Zac Taylor
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

Mike Petraglia

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Joined CLNS Media in 2017. Covered Boston sports as a radio broadcaster, reporter, columnist and TV and video talent since 1993. Covered Boston Red Sox for MLB.com from 2000-2007 and the New England Patriots for ESPN Radio, WBZ-AM, SiriusXM, WEEI, WEEI.com and CLNS since 1993. Featured columnist for the Boston Celtics on CelticsBlog.

Related Posts

NFL Championship Sunday Props – Betting Predictions and Picks

01/26/2023

Bengals Beat: Joe Burrow Explains Why Being Surrounded By Teammates With ‘Right Stuff’ Is Key To Super Bowl Run

01/26/2023

Previewing Patriots Shrine Bowl Roster

01/25/2023

Bedard: Bill O’Brien Will Elevate Mac Jones in Year 3

01/25/2023

Next steps after Bill O’Brien Named Patriots Offensive Coordinator

01/25/2023

Five Free Agency and Trade Targets for the Patriots at Wide Receiver

01/25/2023

Comments are closed.

Follow Us
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube
Featured Videos
A List Podcast

Who Should Get the Biggest Slice of Blame Pie for Celtics Recent Slide?

By CLNS Media01/26/2023

On episode 112 of the A List Podcast, A. Sherrod Blakely, Gary Washburn & Kwani…

Previewing Patriots Shrine Bowl Roster

01/25/2023

Next steps after Bill O’Brien Named Patriots Offensive Coordinator

01/25/2023

Celtics Offense Collapses in Loss to Miami

01/25/2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok Discord
  • Home
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • View All Podcasts
  • About
  • Privacy Policy

2022 North Station Media. Designed by J&R Marketing.


At North Station Media, we don’t just celebrate diversity, we live it. North Station Media is an equal opportunity employer that commits itself everyday creating the most inclusive environment for all its employees and hiring the best and most qualified individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Cleantalk Pixel