The Cincinnati Bengals have officially reached the point of training camp where the pads are on, the competition is intensifying and some of the biggest storylines are beginning to separate themselves from the usual camp noise. Through the first seven practices, perhaps the biggest development has been the way the Bengals’ revamped defense has consistently challenged Joe Burrow and an offense that entered camp with sky-high expectations.
And, unsurprisingly, Dexter Lawrence has been at the center
of it all. The massive defensive tackle has quickly established himself as a disruptive force, routinely creating problems for the offensive line and forcing the Bengals to speed up their operation. Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Ted Karras have all taken notice of what Lawrence is bringing to practice, with Karras even calling him one of the best nose tackles he’s faced in his career.
Lawrence hasn’t been the only defensive player making noise, either. Bryan Cook has continued to stand out in the secondary, while players such as Barrett Carter, Demetrius Knight Jr. and others have benefited from the attention Lawrence commands up front. The Bengals’ defense has looked faster, more physical and more confident than it did for much of last season, giving Zac Taylor and defensive coordinator Al Golden plenty to be encouraged about as camp moves forward.
On the other side of the ball, the offense has still produced plenty of its own highlights. Burrow continues to show the chemistry that makes Cincinnati’s passing attack so dangerous, particularly with Chase and Tee Higgins, while Chase Brown is making his case for a prominent role in the offense during what could be a pivotal season for him. The Bengals have also experimented with more 13-personnel looks, adding another wrinkle to an offense that could look somewhat different in 2026.
That brings us to Day 8, which should provide another opportunity to see whether the defense can maintain its early momentum or whether Burrow and company begin to push back. The Bengals are now deep enough into camp that individual matchups are becoming increasingly meaningful, particularly along the offensive and defensive lines. With the first preseason game against Detroit approaching, every practice is beginning to carry a little more significance.
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