The Bengals have left the bye week sitting at 3-2, and special teams is the part of the roster that keeps dragging the conversation in the wrong direction.
There’s one obvious exception. Evan McPherson has been as steady as they come, and outside of a penalty that pushed Cincinnati out of field-goal range, the field-goal operation has been clean.
McPherson owns the franchise record for most consecutive field goals made at 22, a streak that goes back to the 2025 season. He’s 10-for-10 in 2026, and five of those makes have come from 50 yards or more, with a long of 58.
That kind of reliability matters. The Bengals would rather finish drives in the end zone, but when they settle for three, they can at least count on McPherson to cash in.
The one scare on the defensive side of that phase came in Week 5 against the Dolphins, when Dexter Lawrence was flagged for roughing the snapper after a made kick. Miami got another set of downs, eventually scored a touchdown, and turned three points into seven.
Cincinnati still won, but that extra damage helped keep the Dolphins in range late in the fourth quarter.
The trouble really starts once the ball is punted.
Against the Steelers in Week 3, the Bengals got exactly the kind of stop they needed in the third quarter, only for Cedric Johnson to be called for roughing the kicker. That gave Pittsburgh a fresh set of downs, and the Steelers turned the do-over into a touchdown a few plays later.
On the very same day, former punt returner Ke’Shawn Williams muffed a punt that Pittsburgh recovered at the Bengals’ 14-yard line. Cincinnati’s defense limited the damage to a field goal, but the result was still another wasted chance to get off the field and another three points handed over.
Those two breakdowns mattered. Pittsburgh got possessions that led to 10 points in a game Cincinnati lost by three.
Ryan Rehkow’s punting hasn’t helped the picture much either. His 44.9 yards per punt ranks among the lowest in the NFL, though he has placed nine of his 16 punts inside the 20 and has not had a touchback. He hasn’t committed a glaring error, but the production has been underwhelming.
The kickoff game has produced both ends of the spectrum. Rookie wide receiver Dohnte Meyers delivered a huge 81-yard return against the Dolphins that set Cincinnati up at Miami’s 10-yard line, and Burrow and the offense turned that gift into a touchdown three plays later.
But Meyers also fielded a kickoff at the four-yard line in that same game and drifted out of bounds almost immediately, leaving the Bengals pinned near their own goal line. The offense eventually moved the ball to around midfield before punting.
That’s been the theme with this group: flashes of juice, followed by mistakes that can wreck field position in a hurry. The coverage units haven’t suffered the sort of collapse the punt teams have, but the overall execution has not been clean enough.
Darrin Simmons has been running Bengals special teams since 2003 and has also served as assistant head coach since 2020. He’s usually had a dependable operation.
This year has been different. Outside of McPherson, the unit has made too many costly errors, and some of them have directly shaped games.
The Steelers game stands out for a reason. Cincinnati lost by three, and special teams errors helped hand Pittsburgh 10 points. Nobody can say exactly how that matchup unfolds without those plays, but it’s hard not to look at 3-2 and think it could have been better.
Players have to execute, and coaches can only control so much once the ball is live. Still, Simmons is the one responsible for getting these units ready, and right now they are not doing enough. Without McPherson carrying the load, this special teams group would be staring at a pretty ordinary grade.
In Other News...
Bengals Suddenly Linked To A Move That Could Change Their Offense
The Colts 2-4 start and the firing of general manager Chris Ballard have stirred up an already unsettled situation in Indianapolis, and it has quickly spilled into trade chatter around one of the NFLs most recognizable running backs. Jonathan Taylors name is suddenly back in the rumor mill, with Cincinnati among the teams said to have at least checked in as clubs look at whether the Colts might be willing to move him.
For the Bengals, the appeal is obvious enough to make the speculation worth watching, even if nothing has been confirmed by Indianapolis or any of the teams involved. Seattle has also been tied to the same broader sweepstakes, and the fact that several clubs are believed to have called the Colts suggests this could become a real story if the market keeps building, leaving Cincinnati fans to wonder whether a major offensive addition is even possible. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Face A Trade Deadline Question Their Secondary May Force
With the Bengals navigating a wave of defensive injuries, the trade deadline has started to feel less like a formality and more like a possible fix. Cincinnati has been linked to the idea of adding help to the secondary, and Los Angeles safety Derwin James has emerged as the kind of versatile player who could matter on the back end and in the box if the team decides to make a move.
James brings the sort of name and skill set that would draw attention anywhere, even if the situation in Los Angeles makes a deal more complicated than it looks on paper. The Chargers have their own issues as they try to steady a struggling season, and any discussion around a deadline splash comes with the reality that nothing has been confirmed. For the Bengals, the question is whether the need in the secondary pushes them from monitoring the market to actually acting on it. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Face One Trade Deadline Question In Their Backfield
The Bengals are keeping an eye on the running back market as the trade deadline approaches, and one name that has surfaced is Cam Skattebo of the Giants. Cincinnati has the draft capital to make a move if it wants to shore up a backfield that could use some extra insulation, and Skattebos contract situation makes him an appealing piece for a team looking beyond just a short-term rental.
What makes him interesting is the blend of cost control and unfinished upside. He has shown enough production this season to stay on the radar, yet his role in New York has changed enough to make the conversation real. For the Bengals, the question is whether they want to act before the deadline, or trust the group they already have and save those picks for another need. [Read more 🡒]