CINCINNATI, July 30 -- The helmet came off DJ Turner II's head before the first day of practice had settled into anything resembling routine. Ja'Marr Chase ripped it free, tossed it aside, and turned to meet Jalen Davis facemask to facemask while the rest of the Cincinnati Bengals offense and defense sorted themselves into opposing groups, coaches cutting between bodies, everyone loud at once.

It lasted seconds. It will take months to fully interpret.

The scrum was the defining image from Day 1 of Bengals training camp on Tuesday, a jolt of chemistry read that arrived earlier than anyone planned. Chase, as his nature demands, was at the center of it. An assistant coach wedged between him and Davis, and eventually the practice field retu...