The Cincinnati Bengals made extensive changes to their defense this offseason, so it's no surprise that one of their biggest questions heading into the 2026 season is on the other side of the ball.
ESPN’s Ben Baby identified offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. as Cincinnati’s “biggest concern”
in the outlet’s season preview, mentioning the ex-Oklahoma Sooner's ability to regain his previous form was among the reasons why."Last year, Orlando Brown Jr. was still feeling the effects of a broken leg he suffered in 2024. He is looking for a return to pre-injury form at LT," Baby wrote.
Brown played all 17 games and every one of the Bengals’ 1,110 offensive snaps last season. Cincinnati also showed its confidence in Brown this offseason, signing the four-time
Pro Bowler to a two-year extension through the 2028 season.
Depth also contributed to the concern. Cincinnati has Brown and 2024 first-round pick Amarius Mims entrenched as its starting tackles, but the preseason didn't produce a clear winner for the swing tackle role. The Bengals claimed Myles Hinton off waivers in August as an option behind the starters.
Protecting Joe Burrow is especially important, with ESPN Research noting that Burrow has been sacked 213 times since entering the NFL, fourth-most over that span, while Cincinnati owns the league’s worst pass block win rate at 52%.
But there are some reasons for optimism, particularly their offensive line ranking fifth in the NFL in Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade over the final seven weeks of last season after Dalton Risner became the full-time right guard.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals OT Orlando Brown Jr. at center of team’s biggest concern
