The Cincinnati Bengals are back to work this week as training camp officially gets underway. Their first practice is scheduled for Wednesday (7/29), kicking off the process of trimming the roster from roughly 90 players down to the final 53.
It also marks the end of the NFL’s annual summer lull. After weeks of almost nothing happening throughout June and July, football is finally back. Thank the football gods.
Here are a few storylines to watch as camp opens.
Defensive line depth
The Bengals completely rebuilt their defensive
front this offseason, adding Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen, while also drafting Landon Robinson and Cashius Howell. Even with B.J. Hill expected to begin camp on the PUP list, there’s little reason to panic because of how much depth Cincinnati added.
The biggest question may not be who starts—it may be who gets cut. There are only so many roster spots available, and at least one talented defensive lineman is likely to be left looking for work elsewhere.
Late free-agent additions
Last August, the Bengals signed Dalton Risner late in the preseason. He eventually took over the starting right guard job, earned a new contract and helped give Joe Burrow the same starting offensive line in consecutive seasons for the first time in his career.
Could lightning strike twice?
The Bengals largely bypassed linebacker in both free agency and the draft, and there are still veterans on the market who could help. Cornerback is another position worth watching. Cincinnati signed Ja’Sir Taylor and drafted Tacario Davis, but is that enough?
If the Bengals make another veteran addition before Week 1, linebacker or cornerback seems like the most likely destination.
Running back is also a possibility, although it feels like more of a long shot.
An evolving training camp philosophy
One of the defining characteristics of the Zac Taylor era has been slow starts.
The Bengals have tried to address that by changing their approach to training camp, including playing starters during the preseason. Even so, the only time they’ve been better than 2-2 through the first four weeks came during their Super Bowl run in 2021.
This roster is far too talented to spend another season digging itself out of an early hole. Will the coaching staff continue tweaking its training camp approach in hopes of finally getting off to a fast start?
We’ll find out soon enough.
Who’s next for an extension?
Several key contributors are entering the final year of their contracts in 2026.
Dax Hill, DJ Turner II, Andrei Iosivas, Jordan Battle, Chase Brown and others are all scheduled to become free agents after the season. The Bengals will undoubtedly extend some of them—but certainly not all.
Who will be wearing Bengals stripes for the final time?
The battle for WR3
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have WR1 and WR1A locked down, but who claims the third receiver role?
The Bengals have rotated players such as Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones into that spot, while Mike Gesicki has also absorbed plenty of receiving opportunities from the tight end position. Still, no one has firmly established themselves as the clear third option behind one of the NFL’s best receiving duos.
Training camp could change that.
The tight end rotation
This position group is especially intriguing because of Erick All Jr.’s return from the knee injury that has sidelined him since Week 9 of the 2024 season.
Gesicki is essentially a wide receiver playing tight end, while Drew Sample is one of the league’s better blocking tight ends. All has the potential to provide the best of both worlds.
If he can stay healthy, could he completely change the dynamic of Cincinnati’s offense?
More storylines will emerge as training camp unfolds, but these are a few of the biggest heading into Week 1.
Which one are you watching most closely?
Sound off!
Guess who just got back today?
Them wild-eyed boys that’d been away
Haven’t changed, hadn’t much to say
But, man, I still them them cats are crazy
They were askin’ if you were around
How you was, where you could be found
Told them you were livin’ downtown
Drivin’ all the old men crazy
