The Bengals needed just one snap to make their defensive presence felt, and Demetrius Knight Jr. turned that moment into the team’s first touchdown of the 2026 season.
On Tampa Bay’s second drive, Baker Mayfield was drilled from behind, the ball came loose, and Knight scooped it up before racing 27 yards for the score. It was a quick answer from the young linebacker, who notched his first career touchdown and gave Cincinnati a jolt on the scoreboard early.
Carter helped force the fumble, and the play marked the first time an opponent had scored a fumble touchdown against Tampa Bay since the 2018 season.
Knight also spoke earlier this week with FOX19’s Joe Danneman about the criticism surrounding the team. He didn’t shy away from it.
"Not really. If you're a fan of rat poison, you can go digest as much rat poison as you would like.
You're just gonna not end up the same afterwards," Knight said. "We told each other, hey, get out of that app.
Don't look. It's not going to be good.
It's not going to edify you. It's not going to build you up.
It's not going to build your soul. Definitely not your spirit.
People can be anywhere in the world and say whatever they want. And you know what?
This is America. This is the U.S.
You can say what you want. You have the freedom of speech to say what you want.
"But it's another thing to be in the person's shoes. It's inevitable.
The second you make a bad play, you're gonna get blasted for it, and that just comes with the job. It comes with the job description.
So if you can't handle the bullets, then this might not be the job for you. So you gotta have that character, and that's what I'm trying to do and trying to be.
That's what we're trying to do together. Trying to be bigger than ourselves at this point."
The drive log showed the sequence that set up the touchdown: Mayfield was sacked at the Tampa Bay 33 for no yards on a sack split by M. Murphy and B.
Carter, fumbled, and Knight recovered at the 27 before taking it in for the touchdown. E.
McPherson added the extra point.
In Other News...
Bengals Already Have An AFC North Problem After Week 1
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Around the NFL, several teams are dealing with injuries and uneven play at quarterback, and that has created a market for veteran depth in a hurry. Flaccos experience makes him an obvious fit for clubs looking for a ready-made option, whether through a trade or another roster move, though no deal has been confirmed and Cincinnati still appears to be holding its cards for now. [Read more 🡒]
Amarius Mims Is Forcing A Bengals Decision They Usually Avoid
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For Cincinnati, the bigger issue is what this kind of development eventually forces them to consider. Mims is not even in extension territory until 2027, but the market for tackles with his profile already points to a hefty price range, and that number could keep climbing if franchise-tag costs rise the way they are projected to. The Bengals usually prefer to avoid getting boxed into a costly decision early, yet Mims keeps making it harder to ignore what comes next. [Read more 🡒]