The Bengals spent the offseason trying to fix the side of the ball that needed the most attention, and on paper they’ve done a real job of it. Cincinnati added names like Dexter Lawrence, Bryan Cook and Super Bowl-winning defensive end Boye Mafe, giving the roster a much different look heading into the new year.
Mafe arrived in the Queen City after his time in Seattle, where he watched the Seahawks turn into a title team last season. That experience is shaping how he views what’s happening around Al Golden’s defense in Cincinnati right now.
He talked about it last week on The Insiders on the NFL Network, pointing to the early stages of building a new system and the way players settle into it over time.
“When I was in Seattle, when we first had Mike (McDonald) there, there was always a learning curve. Guys are learning a new defense.
There’s gonna be a learning curve,” Mafe said. “Coming into spring, I’m seeing that guys are comfortable with the defense.
I’m seeing that guys are understanding everything. They’re seeing the vision.
They’re seeing how he (Golden) wants to run the defense, and what he wants it to look like.
“It’s starting to become his vision of what the defense should look like.”
That’s the kind of update Bengals fans want to hear. Cincinnati has been searching for a defensive identity to match an offense that can score with anybody, and the hope is that these new pieces can come together quickly. If they do, Zac Taylor’s team could be looking at another long playoff run.
In Other News...
Noah Thomas Is Giving Bengals Fans A New Camp Receiver To Watch
Training camp always creates a few new names for fans to track, and Noah Thomas has already worked his way into that conversation. During a Bengals practice, the rookie wide receiver made a notable contested catch that turned heads, then added another grab on a shorter pass from Joe Flacco. It was the kind of early-camp sequence that can matter for an undrafted or late-round player trying to show he belongs in a crowded receiver room.
Ja'Marr Chase noticed, too, and his praise carried some weight. Chase pointed to Thomass ability in jump-ball situations and even drew a comparison to Tee Higgins, which is the sort of endorsement that can get attention quickly around camp. For a Bengals offense built around proven pass catchers, Thomas is still very much in the proving stage, but he has at least given fans a reason to keep watching every rep. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals May Have An In-House Answer To Shemar Stewarts Absence
Shemar Stewarts injury has pushed the Bengals to look harder at their edge-rush depth, and Isaiah Foskey has emerged as a name worth watching in camp. The former Notre Dame standout joined Cincinnati last season and already has a built-in connection to coach Al Golden, which gives him a familiar foothold as the team sorts through options for shoring up the pass rush.
Foskey flashed in limited action a year ago and has been working toward a bigger role, with the kind of versatility that can matter when a roster spot is up for grabs. For Cincinnati, the question now is whether that early promise and his comfort in Goldens defensive system can translate into the chance to help replace what Stewart was supposed to provide. [Read more 🡒]
Zac Taylor Sent Bengals Camp A Message Fans Wont Ignore
Training camp has given Zac Taylor a chance to reset the tone after a 6-11 season that left plenty of unfinished business in Cincinnati. The Bengals coach, along with newcomers and returning players, has been framing last year less as a weight to carry and more as fuel to push the group forward, with Dalton Risner and DJ Turner also addressing how the team has handled the disappointment.
Taylor said the record from last season is motivation, not baggage, and he has described the upcoming chase as something that brings excitement rather than pressure. Turner, meanwhile, made it clear he is tired of the team being defined by what happened a year ago and wants the focus on what comes next, which is exactly the kind of mindset Cincinnati needs as camp ramps up and expectations follow it every day. [Read more 🡒]