The Bengals’ pass rush has been a problem for a while, and now the combination of a scheme change and Shemar Stewart’s injury is handing three edge players a real preseason opening.
Cincinnati has been moving toward a more 3-4 look under defensive coordinator Al Golden, and with Trey Hendrickson gone and replaced by more of an outside linebacker in Boye Mafe, that shift is nearly finished. The issue is that the team’s personnel has not always fit the plan. Stewart’s absence only widens the gap - and creates room for Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Isaiah Foskey and Cedric Johnson to make a case for themselves at outside linebacker.
Powell-Ryland is the most intriguing name in the bunch. He was a monster in college, finishing his final season with 16 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, 43 tackles and three forced fumbles. Still, the NFL let him slide all the way to the sixth round of the 2025 draft, where the Philadelphia Eagles took him before he eventually landed on the Bengals’ practice squad after being released.
One reason he fell was his arm length. That kind of trait did not stop Cashius Howell from turning heads in camp, and Powell-Ryland can try to follow the same path. If he flashes in preseason games, even with a crowded defensive line ahead of him, he could put himself on another team’s radar as a pass-rush upgrade.
Foskey has his own path to playing time. He already knows exactly what Golden wants from a stand-up defensive end, because he played for him at Notre Dame. Foskey’s final college season was strong - 11 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 45 tackles - and the New Orleans Saints made him a second-round pick in 2023.
That pedigree matters, and so does the familiarity with Golden’s system. Foskey spent two seasons with the Saints without finding much success, then reunited with his former college defensive coordinator in Cincinnati last year by signing to the practice squad.
He also brings a different skill set than Powell-Ryland and Howell, since he can work both as a stand-up edge rusher and as a traditional 4-3 defensive end. If Stewart ends up on the PUP list and misses the first four weeks, that versatility becomes even more valuable.
Johnson may have the cleanest immediate opening. The Bengals drafted him in the sixth round in 2024, and in 18 games with Cincinnati he has produced three sacks, 27 tackles and three tackles for loss. He is third on the preseason depth chart at edge, behind Stewart, which puts him in position to benefit the most from Stewart’s time out.
Johnson can also move between a two-point and three-point stance, though Cincinnati has used him more like a hand-in-the-dirt defensive end than the stand-up rusher he was in college. His task this preseason is simple in theory and tricky in practice: hold off Foskey and Powell-Ryland while also pushing his way up the depth chart.
None of the three is a perfect replacement for Stewart. They are better fits behind Mafe, Howell and Myles Murphy than they are in Stewart’s spot. But with Stewart sidelined, the Bengals have no choice but to spread those snaps around and see who can seize them.
For Powell-Ryland, Foskey and Johnson, the path is there. Now it comes down to who takes advantage of the preseason work and forces the coaching staff to pay attention.
In Other News...
Bengals First Look At Burrows New Offense Raised One Early Concern
The Bengals got their first preseason win out of the way with a 16-14 result, and the more meaningful part for Cincinnati was seeing most of the starters on the field for an opening look at Joe Burrows new offense. Burrow was sharp enough in limited work, and the defense, even with several key players missing, found a couple of moments to make its presence felt as the team continues building toward the regular season.
Joe Burrows first series under the new setup still offered an early reminder of how fragile that transition can be. Cincinnati got production from the defense as well, with a tipped pass turning into an interception for Jordan Battle and Kris Jenkins adding pressure up front, but the bigger checkpoint now is the joint practice with the Bears on Aug. 20, where the Bengals should learn a lot more about where the offense really stands. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Just Saw A Preseason Concern Grow For Detroit
Detroits preseason game with Cincinnati brought the kind of injury scare every team tries to avoid in August. Running back and return man Jacob Saylors broke off a 27-yard run before leaving with a lower leg injury and struggling to put weight on it, a jarring turn for a player trying to carve out a role in the Lions backfield and return game. The same game also sent defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. to the sideline earlier with an apparent arm injury, adding to the uneasy feeling around a roster still sorting itself out.
The broader picture in Detroit is already a little crowded on the injury front, with head coach Dan Campbell noting Cade Mays will be out a significant stretch because of a wrist issue, while Isiah Pacheco is working back from an MCL sprain and expected for Week 1. Safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are also on the physically unable to perform list but are expected to be ready when the games count, so the Lions are still hoping this early turbulence stays limited to August. Still, any new hit to depth at this stage tends to make the rest of the preseason a little more precarious. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Depth Battle Already Produced Some Early Standouts
The Bengals used their preseason opener against the Lions to get an early look at a roster that still has plenty of sorting to do, and the first impression was a good one. Cincinnati won 16-14 while giving only limited work to starters such as Joe Burrow, leaving much of the spotlight on the new defensive additions and the rest of the group fighting to carve out roles.
That is where the night got interesting for the Bengals. With Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen among the notable newcomers drawing attention, several players battling for roster spots made their case with disruptive defensive plays, turnovers and contributions from rookies and other young players. The result was more than just a preseason win, because it hinted that the depth chart is already starting to reveal a few early standouts. [Read more 🡒]