The Bengals may be heading toward the same kind of front-office headache that always seems to show up at the worst possible time: a young player getting expensive right as the team starts talking itself into cap problems.
That’s the concern around DJ Turner, and the warning is simple enough. Turner could have chosen to hold in during training camp while he pushed for a deal, and nobody would have blamed him for it.
Instead, Cincinnati looks like it might be about to let the clock run too far again and end up paying for a breakout season a year late. The timing only gets trickier because the Bengals could be staring down another costly decision next season with Myles Murphy after declining his 5th-year option earlier this offseason.
For a team that looks dangerous on paper, the financial picture could still turn messy fast.
Inside the locker room, though, the mood sounds different. Center and captain Ted Karras came away from Tuesday’s practice seeing a group that believes it has something real in front of it.
“We’ve got a real chance. We’ve got to play to it.
A deep team. We’ve got to play to it.
It’s an easy team to lead. A lot of guys that want to do the right thing all the time.
High energy guys, too. One of the toughest (offensive line) rooms I’ve ever been a part of.
Comes to work every day and fights through things.”
That kind of tone feels like a step up from last year’s constant focus on starting fast. This time, the buzz sounds a little bigger than that. The idea is not just a quick start - it’s that this roster can actually chase a ring.
There was also a sigh of relief around Stewart, who is back practicing after the knee injury scare. He described the moment this way: “In that moment I felt like a little, tiny pop,” Stewart said.
“I thought it was over. But thankfully God was on my side.”
For any player, that kind of split-second fear can flip everything in an instant, from a normal practice to a season spent in rehab. Stewart got the break he needed, and that alone matters.
The Bengals also got positive injury news on Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins as Week 1 prep rolls on. The names grab attention, but the update doesn’t point to anything major right now.
Official injury reports won’t begin until next week ahead of the Sept. 13 opener against Tampa Bay, so there’s still time for the picture to sharpen. For now, it’s the kind of report that makes fans pause for a second, then exhale.
Elsewhere around the league, the Raiders have named Kirk Cousins their starting quarterback to open the 2026 season, with top pick Fernando Mendoza behind him. And there’s already chatter about the NFL’s 2026 offensive landscape, where the Bears, Bills and Rams headline one projection.
Cincinnati belongs in that conversation too. The Bengals have finished no lower than eighth in points per game in each of Joe Burrow’s healthy seasons, and if Burrow stays on the field for all 17 games, the offense looks like a safe bet to land back in the top 10.
That same logic makes the Cowboys’ contract dilemma worth watching. Stephen Jones said, “I don’t know of any teams that really can pay two top receivers top of the market, so that’s gonna be a real difficult situation as we move forward,” he said.
“We’ve managed to figure out how we can do it for this year. If everything works out the way we think it is, [in] which CeeDee and George both have huge years again, then it’ll be a bigger challenge next year.”
In Other News...
Bengals Suddenly Have A Week 1 Concern Fans Didn't Want
Tee Higgins missed Wednesdays practice with a heel contusion, giving the Bengals a little early-season unease as they turn toward Week 1. The expectation inside the building is still that Higgins will be ready for the opener, but any absence involving one of Joe Burrows top targets is enough to get attention this close to the start of the season.
JaMarr Chase also sat out with a hyperextended knee, though he is anticipated to play in the opener as well. Both injuries came during preseason activities, which makes this more of a timing issue than a long-term alarm, but Cincinnati would obviously prefer to get through the final stretch of preparations without any more setbacks for its receiving corps. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals May Have Found A Real Swing Tackle Option Already
The Bengals finished filling out their 16-player practice squad by adding offensive tackle Blake Freeland, cornerback Trikweze Bridges and defensive end Garmon Randolph, but Freeland is the name that stands out for the line. A former BYU standout and 2023 fourth-round pick of the Colts, the 25-year-old arrives with real NFL experience after appearing in 16 games and making nine starts as a rookie.
For Cincinnati, the appeal is obvious at a spot where depth can disappear quickly. Freeland also logged 153 preseason snaps recently, giving the Bengals another look at a player who could fit as a swing tackle if needed, and his addition at least gives the organization a viable option to develop while the rest of the roster settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Receiver Room Has An Unlikely New Favorite Fans Will Love
An undrafted wide receiver who once split time between the CFL and DoorDash deliveries has gone from long shot to roster survivor, and Dohnte Meyers made enough noise in the preseason to carve out a place on the Cincinnati Bengals 53-man roster. Meyers finished with eight catches for 92 yards in exhibition play, a steady enough showing to keep him in the mix when roster decisions got real.
His rise has already shown up in a small but telling way, too, with a locker now sitting next to JaMarr Chase and Tee Higgins. While Meyers settles in, the Bengals also said goodbye to Charlie Jones, who was cut and has since landed with the New York Giants, leaving the receiver room with a fresh face fans can easily rally behind. [Read more 🡒]