For the first time in the Joe Burrow era, the Bengals can head into training camp without the usual anxiety about the offensive line. All five starters from last season are back, and even with Burrow dealing with turf toe last year, Scott Peters’ group turned in the best offensive line season Cincinnati has had since Burrow arrived in 2020.
At the center of that turnaround was rookie left guard Dylan Fairchild.
Fairchild won the starting job as a rookie and made his presence felt right away. Working next to veteran left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., he gave Cincinnati exactly what it had been searching for at left guard - and then some. The eye test was strong enough on its own, but the numbers back it up.
In pass protection, Fairchild handled 629 snaps and allowed just two sacks all season. One of those sacks came on a play where he was injured, which likely played a role. After years of waiting for Cordell Volson to become the answer, Fairchild stepped in and looked like the player the Bengals had been hoping for.
His value showed up in the run game, too. Cincinnati averaged a team-best 6.39 yards per carry running between Fairchild and Brown, the highest mark of any gap on the offensive line. The next-best lane was between Fairchild and Ted Karras, where the Bengals averaged 4.42 yards per carry.
Fairchild already looked like a win in his first season. The numbers make the case even louder. Now with his second NFL season coming up, the Bengals have every reason to be excited about what comes next.
In Other News...
Bengals Linebacker Problem Could Finally Meet A Rival-Created Opening
The Bengals left the offseason without adding a linebacker, even with questions lingering about the depth chart at the position. That has kept the spotlight on any outside options that might surface late in the summer, especially if a player with a more complete rsum becomes available after the final roster decisions are made.
Nathaniel Watson is one name that fits that kind of search. The Browns linebacker, a 2024 sixth-round pick, missed the entire 2025 season because of a torn biceps, but his college production was hard to ignore, and his size gives him some versatility that could interest a team looking for help in more than one spot. If Cleveland does move on, Cincinnati could have reason to take a closer look. [Read more 🡒]
These Bengals Camp Battles Could Reshape The Roster Fast
Training camp is about to get crowded in Cincinnati, and thats exactly what the Bengals wanted after spending the offseason deepening the roster at a few key spots. Defensive tackle looks especially loaded with Jonathan Allen joining a group that already includes Kris Jenkins Jr., McKinnley Jackson, Landon Robinson, Jordan Jefferson and T.J. Slaton, while the secondary and tight end room both have enough names in the mix to make every rep matter.
The real challenge now is figuring out which of those battles turn into actual roster decisions once the pads come on. Dax Hill is not locked in as the boundary corner starter, the nickel and safety mix includes Jalen Davis, Ja'Sir Taylor, Bralyn Lux, Kyle Dugger and Bryan Cook, and the tight end group has Drew Sample, Erick All Jr., Jack Endries, Tanner Hudson and Mike Gesicki all pushing for roles in a rotation that could shift quickly if one player separates himself. [Read more 🡒]
Tahj Brooks Has A Real Chance To Change The Bengals Backfield
Tahj Brooks enters the offseason with a path that is a little clearer than it looked a year ago. He is the only Bengals running back currently under contract beyond this season, while Chase Brown is heading into the final year of his rookie deal and Samaje Perine is set to hit free agency. Brooks did not make much noise as a rookie, but Cincinnati still has reason to keep him in the mix because his college rsum at Texas Tech showed the kind of production and receiving ability that can translate into a useful NFL role.
The real question is whether Brooks can turn that long-term security into a more immediate job when camp opens in 2026. Perines familiarity with the offense and Browns strong play have kept the depth chart tight, leaving Brooks mostly on the outside looking in so far. Even so, the Bengals may soon have to decide whether he is simply a depth piece or a legitimate challenger for the backup role behind Brown. [Read more 🡒]