Landon Robinson has been one of the Bengals’ most active defenders this preseason, and he says a big part of that growth has come from the veterans around him.
The 2026 seventh-round pick has stacked splash plays across Cincinnati’s first two preseason games, but the production has come with constant teaching attached. The older defensive players, Robinson said, have been quick to jump in after a rep, especially when he flashes something good and then follows it with something he wants back.
After Saturday’s 27-9 win over Chicago, Robinson talked about that dynamic with CLNS Media’s Mike Petraglia. The Navy product finished the game with three tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pass breakup, another strong showing in a preseason that has put him in the spotlight.
"Yeah, I think the older guys, when you go out there, you make a good play, and then you go out and you make a not-so-good play. The older guys will kind of coach you up and be like, 'Hey, just work on this, play this block this way, and just go back and watch the film. Be consistent with that,'"
Robinson’s numbers back up the eye test. Through 102 preseason snaps, he’s posted a 62.2 Pro Football Focus grade, including a 77.1 pass rush grade. He’s also getting plenty of opportunities to show the Bengals he belongs on the 2026 roster.
"Yeah, I think every day you just try and come out and just get better every single day," Robinson said. "So being able to have the opportunity to go against their starters, that's a lot of really good experience there.
So the in-between plays that you talked about, just being able to go out there and be consistent with your job. I think that's something that I'm continuing to get better at ...
It was a lot of fun. You go out there, you celebrate with your teammates, and just being able to go out there and have the older guys watching you do that is just such an honor.
So just gotta just keep doing it."
Robinson’s comments line up with what’s been evident in the locker room: the veteran defenders are engaged, and they’re using these preseason reps to help the younger players learn faster. The starters, meanwhile, aren’t just collecting reps of their own - they’re staying locked in on each snap and helping the younger guys grow through the mistakes as they come.
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