The Bengals’ linebacker room has been a sore spot, and after a rough Week 3 loss to the Steelers, one familiar name has stepped right back into the conversation.
Germaine Pratt, who spent years in Cincinnati and became a key piece of the Bengals’ defense, responded on X to fans pushing for a reunion. He pointed to the impact of the team’s improved defensive line and backed up his point with a clip of a tackle for loss from Cincinnati’s 2024 win over the Cowboys.
"I know... the dline will get double team and results," Pratt responded on X.
That naturally raises the question: should the Bengals bring back the 30-year-old linebacker?
Pratt was a major part of the defense that helped Cincinnati reach back-to-back AFC championship games in 2021 and 2022. His most memorable moment in a Bengals uniform came in the 2021 wild card game, when he intercepted Raiders quarterback Derek Carr to help deliver the franchise’s first postseason win in three decades.
His value inside the locker room was clear, too. Teammates voted him a captain in 2024, a sign of the respect he had built as a leader. Even so, Cincinnati moved on from Pratt the following offseason after the defense struggled to develop talent following the departures of Jessie Bates and DJ Reader.
Since then, Pratt has bounced around. He played for the Raiders and Colts last season, and also spent time this offseason as a coaching assistant at NC State. In 16 games last year - four with the Raiders and 12 with the Colts - he finished with 126 tackles.
There’s at least a case that he could still help in Cincinnati. With the additions up front and Bryan Cook at safety, Pratt could be positioned to contribute at a respectable level again. He would also bring a veteran presence in a role similar to what Josh Bynes provided in 2020, when Pratt was in his second season and Logan Wilson was a rookie.
That kind of help looks especially relevant now. Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. both need a veteran alongside them, and both have had a rough start to their sophomore seasons. Carter, in particular, was picked on by the Steelers and was part of a glaring missed tackle on tight end Darnell Washington.
Pratt may no longer be in his prime, but he could still offer some stability to a young linebacker group if the Bengals decide to make the move.
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