The Bengals’ preseason opener against the Lions gave Cincinnati’s biggest names a chance to turn into spectators, but the specialists never got that break. While first-teamers checked out early on Aug. 13, punter Ryan Rehkow, kicker Evan McPherson and long snapper Will Wagner stayed in the thick of it until the final whistle at Paycor Stadium.
That kind of workload is routine in August, but it can still put a spotlight on every snap. The rain only added to the challenge, and Rehkow welcomed it. He said the repeated chances are part of the appeal, even when the conditions get messy.
"I think it's good. We have the opportunity to get a lot of looks... it's good to feel that pressure,' Rehkow said.
"Me, Evan and Will always talk about (how) 'we're gonna grit it out. We're gonna grit it out.
We're gonna do our job.' But I think every snap that I get, it's a blessing and a privilege.
"It's fun. Sometimes we get a lot more work in during preseason just with the nature of, if the offense is humming. It's still a lot of fun."
Rehkow backed that up against Detroit. He punted five times, with three landing inside the Lions’ 20-yard line. One was a touchback, and his last punt of the night forced a fair catch at Detroit’s 9-yard line.
McPherson was sharp, too, going 4-for-4 on his kicks. That included three field goals, with the first coming from 56 yards in a steady rain, plus an extra point.
Rehkow said special teams coordinator Darren Simmons gave him the freedom to try things in that game that he hadn’t felt as comfortable using in the past.
"I think I want to have a little execution in terms of hitting cleaner balls but there was the stuff that I did in that game that I hadn't done in the two years prior. I feel like preseason is a good time to pull some things out that I've been working on.
You're kind of low-risk, high-reward in getting ready for the season, and in years past I probably wouldn't have been as comfortable to try those things. It was good.
Darren had confidence in me."
Rehkow talked to The Enquirer after Cincinnati’s Aug. 16 training camp session, which centered on special teams. The work fit right in with a 2025 season in which he ranked No. 9 among NFL punters in net average, according to Pro Football Focus.
He said the day included a heavy dose of situational work, the kind that may only show up once in a season.
"I think it was good. We worked on a lot of different situational stuff," Rehkow said.
"Stuff that you might see once in a season. You might not see it all, and so I feel like there's some of those situations − I think we even saw some of them (versus Detroit) − that are just good to review."
Rehkow also made clear where he stands on punting style. He prefers the classic spiral punt over other looks, including the end-over-end kicks associated with the cross-body, Australian Rules-style approach.
"Me, I like the traditional spiral," Rehkow said. "I think that is an art in and of itself. When you hit one clean, I don't think there any better feeling."
Myles Murphy’s exit from the Aug. 15 camp session on a golf cart drew attention, but he was back on Aug. 16 after being treated for muscle cramps.
Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase were among the Bengals who watched the Aug. 16 morning session in street clothes.
As for the day’s top moment, Jalen Davis nearly claimed it after delivering a loud, physical hit in a team period late on Aug. 16. But the nod went to Colbie Young, who connected with Joe Burrow earlier in the morning as the receiver’s camp stock continues to rise.
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