The Bengals’ second preseason game didn’t count in the standings, but it gave Cincinnati plenty to chew on anyway.
On Saturday night, the Bengals beat the Bears 27-9 in their final home preseason game of 2026, improving to a meaningless 2-0 start. The starters stayed in street clothes, but the reserves still put together a night with a few clear standouts - and a few performances that didn’t help much.
Colbie Young made the strongest case of the bunch. With the Bengals’ top four wideouts already locked in, the fight appears to be for the final two roster spots, and Young may have taken a big step toward claiming one of them.
Late in the second quarter, with Cincinnati trailing 6-3, he got behind his defender down the right sideline and hauled in a Josh Johnson touchdown to put the Bengals in front 10-6. He finished with three catches for 48 yards, both a team high in yardage, and the score.
Dohnte Meyers also kept pushing his name into the conversation. A camp favorite for plenty of Bengals fans, he has backed that buzz up in both preseason games.
Against Chicago, with Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase out, Meyers helped carry the passing game and led the team with five receptions for 41 yards. He also added one carry for nine yards.
Josh Johnson did exactly what a veteran backup is supposed to do: keep the offense moving and make plays when they were there. He guided a 14-play, 62-yard drive against the Bears’ starting defense that ended with an Evan McPherson field goal, then hit Young for the second-quarter touchdown.
Johnson closed his night by leading another scoring drive and finding Tanner Hudson in the end zone with less than 30 seconds left in the half, stretching the lead to 17-6. He played the full first half and finished 15 of 23 for 156 yards and two touchdowns.
Hudson’s score mattered too. With Drew Sample and Mike Gesicki sitting atop the depth chart and Erick All Jr. healthy, plus seventh-round rookie Jack Endries showing well in limited chances, Hudson is still fighting for his place. He caught Johnson’s second touchdown from six yards out, and production like that only helps his case.
On the defensive side, Landon Robinson turned in one of the night’s more encouraging performances. The seventh-round rookie is buried in a deep defensive tackle group that now includes Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, and others, with last year’s starters listed behind them.
Even so, Robinson made noise by batting passes at the line and finishing with his first multiple-sack game. That kind of showing makes the Bengals’ defensive line rotation look even stronger heading toward 2026.
Al Golden’s unit also deserves credit. Cincinnati rested its starters, which meant the backups opened against Chicago’s starting offense, though the Bears’ starters only stayed in for a short stretch.
Even so, the Bengals kept Chicago out of the end zone all night. The defense doesn’t need to be perfect for this team, but Golden may have the pieces to build something much better than merely adequate.
McPherson kept doing McPherson things. He went 2-for-2 on field goals, including a 58-yarder, and added all three extra points. He’s now been good from 56, 33, 41, 25, and 58.
Not everyone came out of the game better off, though.
Any wide receiver not named Young, Meyers, or Tinsley probably has a tough road ahead. With the top of the depth chart already spoken for and only a small number of spots truly available, the battle appears to be narrowed to those three names. That leaves everyone else chasing a practice squad spot at best.
Cody Ford had a rough night and then some. He opened at right guard and was flagged for two holding penalties and two false starts in the first half alone.
Jalen Rivers started at left tackle on Sunday, and Ford’s shaky outing may have pushed him closer to the edge as the Bengals sort through their offensive line options. Cincinnati may need to look for more depth there before the season begins.
Josh Newton also landed on the wrong side of the ledger. He has had a difficult camp and has reportedly been in the “doghouse,” and Saturday didn’t help. Jahdae Walker beat him badly down the left sideline for a 36-yard completion, the Bears’ longest play of the night.
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