News Bengals Team Notes

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Trey Hendrickson named 14th best player in NFL by players

Trey Hendrickson is having quite the week.

First, he gets a $14 million raise to play this season.

Then he is named the 14th best player in the entire NFL by his peers.

NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:@Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson earns spot No. 14! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/yOCrlpfoii

— NFL (@NFL) August 28, 2025

That’s quite the jump in NFL.com’s poll, as Hendrickson was only #77 last year.

Jameis Winston called the pass rusher a “silent assassin” and “the little engine that could.” The New York Giants quarterback added, “And like shrimp, [he] comes out of nowhere again.”

Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Staley said, “I think he’s probably the best technical power rusher in the game.”

Meanwhile, in the accompanying article, NFL.com’s Coral Smith described him as “an elite game-wrecking force” and noted that he “accounted for 32.2% of the Bengals total pressures generated last season, making him the only defender to have recorded a team pressure share over 30%.” Smith added that Hendrickson led the league with 92 QB pressures.

Impressive stuff.

Celebrate the return of Hendrickson to the lineup by watching the video below.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinn...4/trey-hendrickson-named-14th-best-player-nfl

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Prospects of interest for the Bengals in the Ohio State vs. Texas game

A loaded college football slate of games in week one is headlined by Saturday’s big noon matchup of Ohio State and Texas.

Let’s take a look at the best NFL Draft-eligible prospects for the game between two teams that are ranked in the top five.

The best prospect for Ohio State this season is Caleb Downs. Downs was an All-American in 2024. He has a chance to be a top 15 draft selection, and that is no small feat for a safety.

Michael Taaffe is another safety prospect to watch in this game. He is a bit undersized for the position. Listed at under 180 pounds, he is an excellent coverage player who has played safety, but may ultimately be a slot cornerback in the NFL.

Sonny Styles is another Buckeye to watch out for. The converted safety to linebacker put up 100 tackles and 6 sacks in 2024. He is expected to be a top 50 draft selection in 2026. The Bengals drafted Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter in 2025. Both players are expected to have big roles for the Bengals this season. If they want to add another player at the position, they will have their eyes on Styles and Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.

Anthony Hill Jr. had 113 tackles and 8 sacks in 2024 for the Longhorns. He is a do-it-all linebacker prospect who is so good rushing the passer that some draft analysts think he could be a full-time edge player in the NFL.

The Bengals have been building depth and talent on the offensive line for the last couple of seasons. If they want to continue doing so, this game is loaded with prospects of interest.

At tackle, the Buckeyes have Austin Siereveld, Phillip Daniels, and Ethan Onianwa as draft-eligible prospects.

Meanwhile, Texas has a very talented prospect in left tackle Trevor Goosby. Other offensive line prospects on the interior include Buckeyes Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman, and Tegra Tshabola. On the opposite side, Texas has DJ Campbell, Cole Hutson, and Neto Umeozulu.

Some other prospects of note for the 2026 draft, even if they are not necessarily going to be Cincinnati Bengals targets, include players like Arch Manning, Tre Wisner, CJ Baxter, DeAndre Moore, Jack Endries, Cole Brevard, and Malik Muhammad for Texas.

Other draft-eligible prospects for Ohio State are Carnell Tate, Max Klare, CJ Donaldson, Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Beau Atkinson, Kayden McDonald, Jermaine Mathews, Davison Igbinosun, and Lorenzo Styles Jr.

With all of this talent, it is easy to see why this may be the most anticipated regular season college football game of the season.

Who do you think will pull off the victory? Sound off!!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinn.../nfl-draft-prospects-ohio-state-vs-texas-game

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Jabrill Peppers cut by Patriots: He’d be a great Bengals target

Many Bengals fans, myself included, are nervous about the safety position entering the season.

Geno Stone has been injured for much of the preseason. Jordan Battle will be entering his first full season as the starter opposite him to begin the year.

Behind those two starters are Tycen Anderson and PJ Jules. Both players are good depth, but also unproven as starters in the NFL, while Daijahn Anthony sits on IR and is also a big unknown at this stage of his career.

One player who could garner some interest at the position is Jabrill Peppers, who was released by the Patriots on Friday.

Peppers is now 29 years old, but still has been playing at a high level. He was the sixth-highest graded safety at PFF in 2024. He had a 74.7 run defense grade and an 81.7 coverage grade. He has logged extensive playing time at both safety spots and can also play the slot.

According to Over The Cap, the Bengals have around $16 million in cap space, and while we have yet to see what Dalton Risner will make, it will likely be for just a few million dollars at most.

Do you think the Bengals should be interested in bringing in Jabrill Peppers at safety?

Patriots are releasing veteran safety Jabrill Peppers, per source. Peppers still has $4.32 million guaranteed remaining on his contract for this season.

Peppers has started 85 games, including 26 with New England, and has totaled over 500 tackles, seven interceptions, six forced… pic.twitter.com/0D8xc5vzH7

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 29, 2025

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/nfl/173...bengals-target-best-nfl-free-agents-available

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Prospects of interest for the Bengals in the LSU vs. Clemson game

The Bengals have done a good job of acquiring talent from both Clemson and LSU over the years. Two of the Bengals best players are from LSU, in Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. They also have three former Clemson players on the roster this year. Tee Higgins, Myles Murphy, and Barrett Carter all played their college ball for Clemson.

On Saturday night, the LSU Tigers will go on the road to face the Clemson Tigers in a battle of two top ten teams to begin the season. Both teams are loaded with NFL-caliber talent again this season. The game takes place on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.

First, we will take a look at some of the draft-eligible prospects for LSU that could be potential targets for the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2026 NFL draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals have done a good job of investing in offensive linemen for the 2025 season. Dalton Risner recently signed a one-year deal at right guard. Lucas Patrick also signed just a one-year contract with the team. Jalen Rivers could earn a starting role at the position going into next year. Even if they think he is the future at right guard, they should look to continue adding depth at the position.

One prospect for LSU at right guard is Josh Thompson. Thompson is a transfer from Northwestern. He allowed only eight total pressures during the 2024 season and did not allow a single sack. He is effective blocking on the move and should be a mid-round prospect next year.

Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones are both entering their third seasons of their four-year rookie contracts. The Bengals could look to add another slot wide receiver in the 2026 draft.

Aaron Anderson is an ultra-talented prospect as both a slot receiver and a weapon in the return game. He stands at only 5’8” but is thickly built at 188 pounds. He also plays much larger in contested catch situations than one would expect. He is a player who can make guys miss in the open field with excellent speed and lateral agility.

On the defensive side of the ball, LSU has a pair of intriguing linebacker prospects in Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins. Both players have excellent range, athleticism, and blitzing ability. They each suffered injuries during the 2024 season. Perkins suffered a torn ACL in week four last year. Weeks was injured during the bowl game, sustaining a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula. They are both expected to play on Saturday night, but it will be worth watching to see if they look like the same players they have been in the past.

Cam Taylor-Britt is entering the final year of his contract this season. The Bengals could be in the market for a corner after the season.

Mansoor Delane is a transfer from Virginia Tech to LSU this season at the position. He is a physical player on the outside. He allowed only a 47.2% completion rate against him last season for the Hokies. Delane also showed off his ball skills with four interceptions on the year.

The Clemson Tigers have more draft talent than any other program in the country this season. There are several intriguing players for the Cincinnati Bengals to be scouting on Saturday night.

The Bengals still have some question marks entering the season about the interior pass rush from the defensive tackle position.

Clemson has arguably the best player in college football at defensive tackle this year in Peter Woods. Woods is a 6’3” 315 315-pound wrecking ball. Not only is he physical, but he is a prolific first-step off the snap. He has enough athleticism at that size that he played on the edge for a majority of his snaps in 2024. This season, he should be back playing more on the interior of the defensive line. He will likely be a top ten draft selection. With the Bengals picking 32nd after a Super Bowl victory, he will not be available.

Peter Woods vs. Wake Forest https://t.co/bfP13yQPwz pic.twitter.com/7csPm1RLm1

— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) August 7, 2025

T.J. Parker is another defensive line prospect for Clemson. Parker is a defensive end. He produced 57 tackles, 11 sacks, and a ridiculous 6 forced fumbles in 2024. Parker also has an opportunity to be a top-2o overall selection.

I should not have started my EDGE prospects by watching TJ Parker first…

Every player after is just going to say "not TJ Parker" pic.twitter.com/6eRG7VUgZe

— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) May 7, 2025

Avieon Terrell, the brother of Falcons corner A.J. Terrell, is one of the best cornerback prospects for the 2026 draft. He doesn’t have the best size, but he reminds me of Trent McDuffie. He is physical in run support and plays a lot bigger than his listed size.

Other draft-eligible prospects of note for Clemson include Cade Klubnik (QB), Antonio Williams (WR), Blake Miller (OT), Walker Parks (OG), Tristan Leigh (OT), Ryan Linthicum (OC), DeMonte Capehart (DT), Will Heldt (DE), Wade Woodaz (LB), and Khalil Barnes (S).

Prospects of note for LSU include Garrett Nussmeier (QB), Nic Anderson (WR), Barion Brown (WR), Braelin Moore (OC), Patrick Payton (DE), Ashton Stamps (CB), and AJ Haulcy (S).

Several Bengals players will be rooting on their former teams in this game. Who do you think will pull out the victory on Saturday night?

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinn...73613/nfl-draft-prospects-lsu-vs-clemson-game

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Jalen Rivers continues improving at right guard

Jalen Rivers continued ascending over the past couple of weeks after making the switch to right guard and even earned praise from Coach Taylor after the 53-man roster was announced.

Zac Taylor says he believes the Bengals starting right guard is currently on the roster.

On rookie Jalen Rivers: "Jalen has only gotten better as camp has gone on."

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) August 26, 2025

Rivers spent much of training camp and the first preseason game working at offensive tackle. The Bengals decided to kick him inside to guard, partly due to injuries the past couple of weeks at various times to Lucas Patrick, Cody Ford, and Cordell Volson.

In his first preseason action in Week 2 at guard, he turned in a solid but not spectacular performance against the Washington Commanders. What made that performance so impressive to me was the limited reps he had at the position up until recently. You could tell he was still getting comfortable at the position at this level of football, but he showcased a lot of good traits for an interior offensive lineman to build on and continue developing.

Here are the rest of the first half snaps for Jalen Rivers against Washington at Right Guard:

**If you are enjoying these cut-ups and want to show some love back I would really appreciate you all subscribing to our YouTube Channel (even if you never watch it )… https://t.co/UcVMBPXzgu pic.twitter.com/Sq7uZrIai9

— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) August 20, 2025

He followed that performance up by looking even more natural on the inside against the Indianapolis Colts this week, displaying good hand usage, power as a run blocker, and looking to finish through the whistle. His ability to recognize and pick up stunts already looks like a veteran player.

Jalen Rivers vs. Indianapolis Colts pic.twitter.com/UH193Q7jcX

— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) August 24, 2025

Rivers also took some reps recently at left guard for the Bengals.

Jalen Rivers is repping at left guard with the starters during individual drills today.

Dylan Fairchild is running through every rep by himself. Rivers continues his tour of the Bengals o-line.@WLWT

— Jaron May (@jaron_may) August 28, 2025

For now, the newly signed Dalton Risner is set to be the starting right guard eventually, but he’s only on a one-year deal, potentially paving the way for Rivers to take over in 2026.

At worst, Rivers looks like a quality depth piece for the roster that will be active on gamedays and can provide versatility to play guard or kick back outside to tackle if needed. The Bengals very well may have hit on two long-term solutions for the guard position with Rivers and Dylan Fairchild.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinnati-bengals-preseason/172954/jalen-rivers-right-guard

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals News (8/31): Flexibility is Key

Bengals News​

Bengals Retain Roster Flexibility At Cutdown

The Bengals went heavy at tight end with five, light on the offensive line with eight and all in on long-shot safety PJ Jules when they cut their roster Tuesday to the regular-season maximum of 53 players.

Bengals’ attempt at savvy roster gymnastics backfires thanks to another AFC team’s vigilance

Cincinnati’s plan to bring back a rookie defensive tackle didn’t work out.

Bengals Star Ja’Marr Chase Wants One Thing to Stop Ahead of 2025 Season

A fair request.

Bengals should be this stud safety’s next team after surprise Patriots release

The Cincinnati Bengals are determined to fend off another slow start to the regular season in 2025, and given that they missed the playoffs by one game this past year, it’s especially heartbreaking to think about what went down in Week 1 the last time around.

Bengals quietly added some serious long-term upside to offensive line

The Cincinnati Bengals made a few moves over the past few days, highlighted by the addition of free-agent guard Dalton Risner.

NFL News​

2025 NFL playoff predictions: Picks for 8 division winners, 6 wild cards

If you’re a football fan, there’s one thing that probably made you nod knowingly when you learned of Taylor Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce: the timing.

Aaron Rodgers is cutting through the noise to build connections and reshape his legacy in Pittsburgh

Aaron Rodgers sits in the corner of a largely empty Pittsburgh Steelers locker room on a random afternoon late in training camp.

2025 NFL team win totals, odds, picks, best bets: Broncos breakout? Back the Pack after Micah Parsons deal

Our CBSSports.com staff gives its best picks for this season’s Over/Under win totals

The Ringer’s 2025 Fantasy Football Guide

Everything you nee to know to win your fantasy draft and dominate your league this season.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinnati-bengals-news/173670/bengals-news-8-31-flexibility-is-key

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

This is the best Bengals offensive line since…

No matter how long you have been following the Cincinnati Bengals, you have seen some really bad offensive lines. In fact, their terrible offensive lines have been a good way to illustrate why quarterback Joe Burrow is so good. He is able to thrive offensively despite having some of the worst protection in the NFL.

Now that the Bengals have signed offensive guard Dalton Risner at right guard, they have arguably completed the best offensive line since Burrow arrived in 2020.

Risner, combined with rookie left guard Dylan Fairchild, who is coming off an incredible training camp and preseason, is replacing the worst guard combination from last season. They join center Ted Karras and offensive tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims.

It is the first time the offensive line hasn’t had an obvious weakness since…. Well since… Okay, it has been a LONG time since that was the case.

That brings the question: What was the best offensive line prior to this? Despite having some of the best offensive linemen of the decade, Cincinnati has always offset them with at least one glaring weak spot.

We can easily coast over the offensive lines that featured Alex Cappa and Cordell Volson (the aforementioned worst guard combo in the NFL), right tackle Bobby Hart (personally used to play a game called “drink if Hart didn’t block anyone” and I’d drink an okay amount on gameday) or Cedric Ogbuehi (why didn’t you just pay Whitworth).

But enough about the bad. Let’s look at some of the possible best real quick in chronological order:

2021

This offensive line started out as (from left to right) Jonah Williams, Quinton Spain, Trey Hopkins, Hakeem Adeniji, and Riley Reiff.

Many will scoff at this, as, despite this being their Super Bowl appearance season, it featured the worst offensive line in the Super Bowl, probably ever. However, that was mostly due to injury and lack of depth. None of these guys were particularly great, but they were all solid for the most part, aside from Adeniji, who eventually was replaced during the season.

2015

This is a serious contender. From left to right, we had Whitworth, Clint Boling, Russell Bodine, Kevin Zeitler, and Andre Smith.

Despite having Bodine, this has three of the best linemen the Bengals have had this millennium. Easily the best guard combination they’ve had in a long, long time. It made up for Bodine. Whitworth is a future Hall of Famer, and Andre Smith never reached his first round potential, but he was okay. Hard to believe we ever complained about him, considering the Hart era started after this.

This line made Jeremy Hill look like a star in his rookie season and had Andy Dalton looking like a possible MVP candidate prior to getting injured late in the season.

This would be my personal pick.

2005

It is kind of troubling to see the stars only seem to align every 10 years…

From left to right, we had Levi Jones, Eric Steinbach, Rich Braham, Bobbie Williams, and future Hall of Famer Willie Anderson

Anderson and Jones highlight this group. Braham is also the best center this team has had prior to Ted Karras. This group was the one that helped lead one of the most memorable offenses in recent Bengals’ history. Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, T. J. Houshmandzadeh, and Rudi Johnson all went off this year. It unfortunately ended with Palmer’s injury in the Wild Card, but the subsequent years of struggles after this group fell apart certainly illustrate how underrated it was to the success of that 2005 team.

Who do you think the last good offensive line was?

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinn...173449/best-bengals-offensive-line-since-when

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals News (9/1): Brown’s game week

Bengals’ defense spotlighted in bold predictions for 2025 NFL season

“The outside concern about the way the defense has looked in preseason games is not shared by those inside the building. The Bengals are installing a new scheme under new defensive coordinator Al Golden, and the coaching staff made a conscious decision to put as little of that scheme on tape as possible in the televised preseason games.”

Bengals Star Ja’Marr Chase Wants One Thing to Stop Ahead of 2025 Season

Chase has had to Griddy a lot, which makes his stance completely fair. He also admitted that Higgins is a better dancer than he is. The two have become best friends over the years in Cincinnati, and it showed throughout the story.

Fantasy Football Preview: Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase Tee Higgins and Chase Brown Will Shine for Cincinnati Bengals

You should be all in on Joe Burrow and the gang. Here are thoughts on the Bengals’ Big Four with fantasy football drafts happening across the country:

Bengals quietly added some serious long-term upside to offensive line

The Bengals added former Jaguars offensive tackle Javon Foster to their practice squad. Foster played in four games last season as a rookie for Jacksonville. He was taken in the fourth round, No. 114 overall out of Missouri.

Former Bengals Second-Round Pick Is ‘Guy That Comes To Mind’ On Defense

“The guy that comes to my mind right off the top of my head is Cam Taylor-Britt,” Helman said. “I have to believe you can get good results out of him. Geno Stone had the benefit of playing on a loaded Ravens team, and maybe that’s the issue. But even Geno Stone has played good football over the course of his career. Logan Wilson has played good football over the course of his career. There are four or five guys that should be able to be part of a useful NFL defense here. I don’t know if that’s enough, but, again, if I’m looking for the glass-half-full version of events, maybe that’s it.”

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinnati/173680/bengals-news-9-1-browns-game-week

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Tuesday Trenches: Only one chance to make a first impression

It’s unfair, when you think about it, how much weight a first impression carries. Not just in social settings either. Go to a new restaurant and have a bad experience? Odds are you won’t return. Was the server just having a bad day? Did the kitchen have a rare miss? Doesn’t matter. You get one chance to prove you’re worth someone’s time. Slip up, and that chance is gone.

The Cincinnati Bengals know that lesson all too well. Under Zac Taylor, slow starts have haunted them. Outside of 2021 and 2022, the opening month has been a wasteland. Through the first four games of 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2024, they went a combined 3-12-1. Contrast that with the two AFC Championship seasons, when they opened 5-3, and you see how razor-thin the margin is.

This offseason, the Bengals kept their word. They extended or re-signed Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Trey Hendrickson. They grabbed Dalton Risner late, giving Joe Burrow the best offensive line he’s had by a mile. They added Noah Fant as another weapon, bolstered depth on the defensive front, and will get 40% of their secondary back from injury. They even made the bold move of changing defensive coordinators, replacing Lou Anarumo with Al Golden.

On paper, they are better than the 2024 version—on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they’re terrifying. Defensively, even if they land somewhere in the middle of the league, that’s enough to keep them in Super Bowl contention if injuries don’t pile up. Could they have done more? Sure. But between Risner, Mike Pennel, and their defensive draft class, they’ve done enough to give themselves a legitimate shot.

That shot starts Sunday. Taylor played Burrow and the starters more than ever this preseason, and it should pay off. The Bengals are a better team than the Browns—especially at quarterback. Cleveland will try to muck things up, but I’ll take Burrow-to-Chase/Higgins over Flacco-Njoku-Jeudy all day, every day.

The recipe is simple: come out swinging. Score early, score often. Put up 40 if you can. If the Bengals dictate tempo, Cleveland’s run game gets neutralized. If not, it could be a grind.

Defensively, it’s still a mystery. We’ve only seen watered-down preseason looks. Can rookies like Demetrius Knight, Barrett Carter, and Shemar Stewart make an impact right away? There’s a ton of potential energy here. Whether it becomes kinetic—we’ll need a few weeks to know.

Bottom line: this season comes down to the Bengals’ first impression. If they hit the ground running, they’ll set themselves up for a playoff push. And with Burrow, once you’re in, anything is possible.

Random Thoughts Entering Week 1

• All the pressure is on Cincinnati. The Browns aren’t picked to win or make the playoffs. The Bengals are—and they need to shake the “slow start” monkey off their back.
• Cleveland’s defense won’t make life easy for Burrow. Expect them to throw the kitchen sink at him.
• Key matchup: the Browns ground game vs the Bengals’ defensive front. If Jerome Ford finds daylight, it could be a long afternoon.
• The Bengals’ offensive depth is absurd. Chase, Higgins, Gesicki, Fant, Iosivas—pick your poison. Give Burrow time and they’re not just “hard” to defend. They’re impossible to defend.
• Risner gives them flexibility at guard, something they desperately needed before he signed.
• NFL Top 100 gripe: Ja’Marr at No. 4 makes sense, but there aren’t five players better or more impactful than Burrow. He should be No. 1 or No. 2.
• My X Factor? Dax Hill. We haven’t seen him fully at corner, but this is the year that changes. The Bengals drafted him in the first round in 2022 for a reason.
• Watch out for Chase Brown. With all the attention on Burrow and the passing game, he has the chance to sneak up on the league.

Game Pick: Bengals by a million

Relative Song Lyrics:

Don’t run back inside, darling
You know just what I’m here for
So you’re scared and you’re thinking
That maybe we ain’t that young anymore
Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night
You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright
Oh, and that’s alright with me

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinnati/173708/tuesday-trenches-one-chance-first-impression

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Poll: Is this the best o-line the Bengals have had since 2015?

Morale is high in Cincinnati, where the Bengals have finally put together what seems like an above-average offensive line.

It feels weird even typing that after poor Joe Burrow has had to deal with terrible lines for most of his career.

But now the star QB might have the type of advantage Andy Dalton had for most of his tenure with the Bengals.

Orlando Brown Jr. is solid, if not borderline elite. Amarius Mims is a rising star. Ted Karras can still get it done. Dylan Fairchild might be the steal of the 2025 Draft. And now they add a proven vet in Dalton Risner.

That’s a good, potentially very good, offensive line.

The most excited we’ve been about a Bengals OL in some time.

OT – Brown, Mims, Ford
OG – Risner, Fairchild, Rivers, Patrick
OC – Karras, Lee

Vets with strengths in pass blocking combined with high-upside recent draft picks that also have strengths in pass blocking.

Let’s go. https://t.co/344HPMpFZ9

— Gridiron Grading (@GridironGrading) August 27, 2025

Well done, Katie Blackburn and company.

This might be the first time since 2015 that the offensive line wasn’t a weakness of the team.

What do you think?

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinnati-bengals-analysis/173495/best-o-line-since-2015

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Zac Taylor says no players limited at practice

As the Cincinnati Bengals gear up to face the Cleveland Browns on the road to start the regular season, it appears they have a healthy team for now.

Speaking to the media, head coach Zac Taylor said, “We’re in great shape,” and he added that no player will be limited in Wednesday’s practice.

Zac Taylor:

"We're in great shape."

Said no one will be limited at practice today. pic.twitter.com/bxXQb0NbiR

— Gabi Sorrentino (@GSorrentinoTV) September 3, 2025

He also mentioned that starting cornerback DJ Turner is “in great shape”.

That’s good news, as, just a couple weeks ago, Turner had to miss a week of practice with an undisclosed injury. Now it seems the Bengals will have their speedy starting corner back in the lineup just in time for an important AFC North rivalry on the road against deep ball lover Joe Flacco.

We talked about Turner’s role on the team as well as the Week 1 matchup with the Cleveland Browns in our season preview:

You can also listen on iTunes or by using the player below:

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinn...173816/zac-taylor-no-players-limited-practice

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

5 keys to winning Week 1 in Cleveland

The Cincinnati Bengals are notorious for their slow starts.

In fact, Zac Taylor is 7-15-1 in the month of September. This puts the Bengals behind to start every single season, and they spend months digging themselves out of the hole. The team may look good and start winning big games as one season nears its end, but then their winning ways go full Wyclef Jean as a new season begins. Which is to say that they are “Gone ’til November.”

Will this year be any different? Sunday may not give us all of the answers, but at least it will at least give us an idea.

So what do the Bengals need to do in order to go to Cleveland and bring home a win?

Gap Integrity​

Let’s not sugarcoat it. The Bengals defense held them back in 2024.

This year, with the addition of Al Golden as defensive coordinator, there are high expectations, but in the preseason, the defensive unit was less than inspirational.

The biggest problem was gap integrity. They gave up some explosive runs simply because someone was out of their gap.

In Week 1, they need to show that they can play disciplined, sound defense, or the Browns will run for 200 yards on them. This is a very basic expectation, but one that is key to the team’s success this season.

Defensive Spark​

Another problem that the Bengals defense had in the preseason, or more to the point, the starting Bengals defense had in the preseason, was a lack of fire. They seemed unmotivated and uninspired.

They need to find a spark. They need someone or something to get them going.

Every defense needs someone who can do this. It could be someone on the field or a coach on the sideline, but it is a necessity of defensive success.

The Bengals need to figure out who will be the emotional engine, who adds this piece to the defense on Sundays.

Maybe it will be one of the defensive captains, like B.J. Hill or Trey Hendrickson, both of whom were missing in preseason action?

Pressure the QB​

You know what would help get them going? Some sacks in big moments.

You know who is good at getting sacks? Trey Hendrickson.

He is a huge piece of the equation, but they need more than just Trey. After all, Trey leading the league in sacks a year ago didn’t drag this defense out of the cellar.

There is a lot of talent on the edge, and Joseph Ossai and Shemar Stewart both have the versatility to kick it inside as well. Then there is former first round pick Myles Murphy, who is overdue for a breakout.

They need to put pressure on Joe Flacco and create opportunities for turnovers.

Pass Protection​

This may be the best offensive line Joe Burrow has ever had, but it is far from perfect. Tackle looks pretty strong with Orlando Brown anchoring one side and Amaris Mims on the other. Ted Karras holds down the fort at center. The potential weakness is at the guard positions.

The Bengals will start rookie Dylan Fairchild at one guard and embattled veteran Lucas Patrick at the other.

Fairchild has massive potential, but rookie guards face a steep learning curve, particularly when they are playing against this Jim Schwartz defensive line. He will face adversity and must respond.

Patrick gets the nod over newcomer Dalton Risner. The veteran was billed as a skilled pass rusher but has dealt with injury and poor performance in the preseason.

This will be a real test for new offensive line coach Scott Peters, giving us a clear picture of where his group is at.

Stars Stepping Up​

It’s hard to win games early in the season.

There are two problems. You don’t know who they are, and you don’t know who you are.

You don’t have much, if any, film on the opposing team, so you never know what surprises they could throw your way. You may have seen the Browns before, but you haven’t seen the 2025 Browns, so you don’t know for sure what to expect.

In September, you are also still figuring out who you are as a team. What is your identity? How do you win games?

While you are trying to figure it out, you need your stars to step up.

They are going to win this game because Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Trey Hendrickson step up and make the plays that matter at the most important moments.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinn...77/5-keys-winning-nfl-week-1-cleveland-browns

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals at Browns: How to watch, game time, TV info, streaming, and picks

Week 1 of the NFL season is here. The Cincinnati Bengals will be taking on the Cleveland Browns for the right to start the season (1-0).

The Bengals have a stellar offense led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins that will be looking to start the season strong against a talented Browns defense led by Myles Garrett.

However, both of these teams have serious question marks coming into the season. For Cincinnati, we have to see if Al Golden has been able to turn things around for this defense that struggled just a year ago. Fortunately, he will have Trey Hendrickson out there after he and the team agreed on a raise for 2025.

Cleveland’s issue is an all but too familiar one. The quarterback position doesn’t have a clear answer. They are trotting out Joe Flacco as the Week 1 starter, but rookie quarterbacks Dillion Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are likely to see action at some point this season. The offense as a whole just seems to be lacking a lot of talent at most positions with a few bright spots here and there.

How will the Bengals start the season?

Here is how you can watch Bengals vs. Browns in NFL Week 1.

Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns​

• Date/Time: Sep. 7th, 2025 at 1:00 pm ET
• Location: Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, OH
• Series Leader: The Bengals lead the series 55-48. Cincinnati has also won four of the last five meetings.
• TV Channel: The game will air on FOX. In the Bengals’ home region, it will be carried by WXIX-TV (Ch. 19) in Cincinnati, WGRT-TV (Ch. 45) in Dayton, and WDKY-TV (Ch. 56) in Lexington.
• Broadcasters: Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Daryl Johnston (analyst), and Allison Williams (sideline reporter).
• Online Stream: FOX
• Replay: NFL+ and NFL Network (check local listings)
• Radio Broadcast: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship radio stations WCKY-AM (1530) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst).
• SB Nation Browns’ site: Dawgs by Nature
• Rosters: CIN | CLE
• Stats to Know: CIN | CLE
• Weather: According to NFL Weather,
• Odds: The Bengals are currently 5.5-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Expert Predictions:

• Sporting News is predicting a 31-21 win for the Bengals
• CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco is taking the Bengals in a 30 to 27 victory
• Five of ESPN’s five experts (at the time of writing) are expecting a Bengals’ victory
• NFL Pick Watch — which takes into account expert picks from across the web — has Cincinnati receiving 96% of the picks.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinn...ow-to-watch-game-time-tv-info-streaming-picks

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Myles Garrett misses practice with new injury

We’ve got some big injury news ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals’ season-opening clash with the Cleveland Browns.

On Thursday, All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett missed practice with a hip injury. This is seemingly an injury Garrett just suffered, as he was not listed on Wednesday’s injury report.

If Garrett is unable to go on Sunday, it would be a massive setback for the Browns’ defense, which has routinely stifled the Bengals’ offense with him in the lineup. He’s easily one of the best defenders and overall players in football, not to mention far and away Cleveland’s best player.

Garrett has also been an iron man when it comes to durability, rarely missing games (when he’s not trying to bash players’ heads in).

How much Garrett does on Friday will go a long way in determining if he’s able to play Sunday. But for now, I’d anticipate him playing until the Browns say otherwise.

And now, NFL reporter Cameron Wolfe says Garrett is expected to play.

Not much concern for Myles Garrett availability Sunday vs. Bengals despite missing practice with hip injury, source tells me.

Garrett is an Ironman. This is relatively normal for him. https://t.co/cVKE4uHn2a

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) September 4, 2025

#Browns Myles Garrett sat out practice with a hip injury, the team announced.

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) September 4, 2025

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinnati-bengals-news/173881/myles-garrett-injury-cleveland-browns

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Prospects of interest for the Bengals in Michigan vs. Oklahoma game

The Michigan Wolverines will travel to Oklahoma Saturday night to face the Sooners. This match-up features two teams ranked inside the top twenty.

There are plenty of draft-eligible prospects that could be of interest for the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2026 NFL draft.

Jake Browning is entering the final year of his contract. The Bengals could look to the draft in finding a long-term solution to back up Joe Burrow going forward after the season.

John Mateer transferred to Oklahoma from Washington State this offseason. He was one of the most highly sought-after recruits in the country. Mateer is a dual-threat quarterback who threw for over 3,000 yards and rushed for another 800 yards during the 2024 season. He combined to put up 44 total touchdowns on the season.

In week one, he went 30 for 37 with 392 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception, throwing the football. He added another touchdown and 24 yards rushing on the ground. Michigan will offer a much tougher challenge on defense than what Illinois State did in week one. If he has a big game this week against the Wolverines, he will enter a lot of Heisman conversations.

John Mateer 2026 NFL Draft Stock pic.twitter.com/69LtI5hTFU

— Ray G (@RayGQue) August 31, 2025

A couple of the weapons for Mateer will be Jaydn Ott at running back and Deion Burks at wide receiver.

Ott is a transfer from Cal that has over 3300 yards for his college career entering the season. His biggest asset is his patience and vision with good burst through the hole. Injuries have slowed him down a bit over the past year. He received limited action in the first week, but is expected to see the field a lot more against Michigan.

Brent Venables says Jaydn Ott is “one more of the explosive players in college football.”

Expect Ott to play A LOT more against Michigan than he did in the season opener. pic.twitter.com/CUPSgVwz75

— The REF (@KREFsports) September 2, 2025

Injuries plagued Burks for the majority of the 2024 season as well. He was limited to only five games during the 2024 season. Now that Burks is healthy, he looks like the player he was at Purdue in 2023. Burks was able to put up 7 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown this past week. He has great acceleration, and his ball tracking ability is one of his biggest strengths as a prospect. There will be concerns with his size and durability at only 5’9” and 180 pounds.

Deion Burks pic.twitter.com/5Pzqoz6J61

— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) August 30, 2025

If the Bengals are in the market for an offensive guard after the season, they could be interested in Oklahoma’s Febechi Nwaiwu. At 6’4” and 339 pounds, Nwaiwu is a physical presence on the interior offensive line. He plays with an aggressive and attacking mindset, constantly looking to finish through the whistle. Originally a walk-on at North Texas, he has worked for every opportunity he now has as a potential draft prospect for the NFL.

There are several defensive prospects to keep an eye on that could be Bengals targets from Oklahoma. One of those is R. Mason Thomas. Thomas is an undersized edge rusher who will likely be limited to being a pass rush specialist in the NFL at 6’2” and 249 pounds. He posted an impressive 31.3% win rate on true pass sets according to PFF in 2024, with 9 sacks on the season. He does have a high missed tackles for his career. Taking Thomas would be an outlier for what the Bengals have preferred in a size profile for the edge position.

I'm just getting around to watching Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas and wow, this guy has serious juice pic.twitter.com/r3J3afNxRC

— Jack Brentnall (@Jack_Brentnall) September 1, 2025

Gracen Halton is a defensive tackle prospect for the Sooners. He is quick off the snap. He put up 5 sacks in 2024 while playing in a rotational role.

Samuel Omosigho is a linebacker prospect from Oklahoma. He moved to inside linebacker this season. He is an excellent athlete as a former safety. He played only 18 snaps in the first week of action, but still had 8 tackles and a sack. This is a player with high upside who should continue getting better as he gets more comfortable at his new position as an inside linebacker.

Lastly for the Sooners, Robert Spears-Jennings is a safety prospect. The Bengals could be losing Geno Stone after this season to free agency. They also have more questions than answers entering the season at the position. Spears-Jennings is a violent finisher who posted an elite PFF grade of 93.1 as a run defender. He is a reliable tackler, with under a 10% missed tackle rate for his career.

9⃣ days until Oklahoma's season opener

Robert Spears-Jennings' 9-yard sack against Auburn

Perfect play call/design to seal the deal on OU's wild win over the Tigers#Sooners pic.twitter.com/BrgsjhpaMa

— Josh Callaway (@JoshMCallaway) August 21, 2025

The Cincinnati Bengals are fairly set entering the 2025 season at running back. They have Chase Brown, Tahj Brooks, and Samaje Perine. That position is one you are always looking to continue adding talent at, though.

The Michigan Wolverines have an exciting prospect that transferred to them from Alabama in Justice Haynes. Haynes had a monster game in week one with 159 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. He averaged a ridiculous 9.9 yards per carry. Haynes has great contact balance, is decisive when making cuts, and has displayed great vision.

I told yall Justice Haynes was legit and that DeBoer wasn’t giving him the carries he deserves at all and now look at his 1st game at Michigan…

16 Carries
159 Rushing Yards
3 Rushing TDs pic.twitter.com/CQcSryrKBp

— Squid_Tha_Goat (@Jesus_Tha_Goat) September 1, 2025

If the Bengals want to continue collecting tight ends, they will want to keep their eyes on Marlin Klein. He has good size at 6’6” and 250 pounds. He is finally getting his chance to be the go-to guy for the Wolverines after spending the past few seasons behind Colston Loveland. Early returns show a player ready to break out at the position this season. He had 6 catches, 93 yards, and a touchdown against New Mexico in the first week of the season.

Loved what I saw from Michigan TE Marlin Klein vs New Mexico. German-born tight end with an impressive blend of size and athleticism pic.twitter.com/orUeSWN0iv

— Jack Brentnall (@Jack_Brentnall) September 2, 2025

The Bengals recently added Mike Pennel after trying to put a waiver claim in for Jordan Jefferson at defensive tackle. They will likely be looking to add to that position again during the 2026 draft. Rayshaun Benny is a defensive tackle prospect for the Wolverines. He has had to patiently wait his turn playing behind top 50 players like Kris Jenkins, Kenneth Grant, and Mason Graham the past couple of seasons. Even in a rotational role, he was credited with 20 pressures during the 2024 season. He is powerful at the point of attack as a run defender. His 1.4% missed tackle rate is among the best in all of college football.

Rayshaun Benny (#26) 6’4 296 lbs.

Benny will be expected to take on a bigger role for Michigan with Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham off to the NFL. He has the flexibility to move up and down the line, is a very reliable tackler, and is a high effort player. He will need to expand… pic.twitter.com/96zjNr99kW

— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) June 14, 2025

Michigan also has a pair of talented linebackers this season. Jaishawn Barham will miss the first half of the game after a targeting penalty against New Mexico. He is a quality run defender who is one of the better blitzing linebackers in college football this season.

They will be forced to lean on another talented linebacker in the first half, in Ernest Hausmann. Hausmann had 8 tackles in week one. That type of production wasn’t surprising after he put up 89 tackles, 2 sacks, and an interception in 2024. He has excellent range, instincts, and pursuit speed for the position.

Michigan senior LB Ernest Hausmann plays faster than any off-ball prospect I've watched all summer. He moves like a 10-year NFL vet with a unique blend of range, instincts, eye discipline, and elite stopping power. Will be one of my favorite defensive players heading into the… pic.twitter.com/ifjU37o1SF

— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTuls) August 12, 2025

Cam Taylor-Britt is entering the last year of his contract for the Bengals. They could be in the market to add another cornerback fairly early in the draft. Jyaire Hill is a player I keep expecting to have a true breakout season for the Wolverines. He has excellent length, speed, and active hands at the catch point. He doesn’t always play as fast as his timed speed, though, and he can be overpowered against the run.

As he continues gaining more experience, I do expect this to be a player worth monitoring as a future draft prospect. The Bengals do love their Michigan defensive backs.

We Need This Jyaire Hill To Show Up Every Week

He Has All The Tools #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/mBr0R6idOw

— THE RED RANGER (@THEREDRANGER3) October 15, 2024

Another Michigan defensive back is Rod Moore. Moore missed all of the 2024 season with a torn ACL and torn meniscus. After a couple of surgeries, he is back practicing with the Wolverines recently. It is unclear if he will be available to play this week against Oklahoma. It would be a big boost if he could get back out there. Moore has 141 tackles and 6 interceptions for his college career.

Which prospects intrigue you most in this game?

Marlin Klein is known more for his blocking than receiving, but this is an outstanding route.

This is how you sell the out route: run at the defender, make your cut, look back for the ball, THEN turn upfield. pic.twitter.com/M9fvz4k4hk

— Due# (@JDue51) August 31, 2025

The majority of the draft-eligible talent for Michigan this year is on the defensive side of the ball. Derrick Moore is a senior defensive end. He tallied 37 pressures in 2024 with a 35.5% win-rate on true pass sets per PFF. He has 11 career sacks. He has great pursuit speed for a player weighing almost 260 pounds. He hasn’t been as reliable of a run defender as he should be at that size to this point of his career.

Derrick Moore (#8) Michigan
6’3” 256 pounds
2024 Stats: 23 tackles and 4 sacks
**35.5% win rate on true pass sets with 37 total pressures pic.twitter.com/JdDkHWvIZn

— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) August 5, 2025

Rayshaun Benny is a defensive tackle for the Wolverines.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinn...3745/michigan-vs-oklahoma-nfl-draft-prospects