The Cincinnati Bengals don’t look done yet.
That’s the big takeaway as the roster keeps taking shape, even after a busy stretch that already brought in offensive lineman Dalton Risner and tight end Noah Fant during training camp last year. Both wound up seeing meaningful snaps, and Risner in particular made his presence felt once Joe Burrow returned from injury, helping stabilize the line and turn it into one of the league’s better pass-protecting groups down the stretch.
There’s reason to think Cincinnati could be headed for another move like that. The linebacker room still stands out as a clear weak spot, and even if the Bengals are comfortable with Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter as starters, they still need veteran depth in case injuries hit.
Cornerback is another spot worth watching. The Bengals still don’t have a clear-cut answer in the slot, and while that doesn’t automatically mean they’ll chase a starter from outside the building, Jalen Davis, Josh Newton and Ja’Sir Taylor will have to prove to the coaches that more competition isn’t needed.
The Bengals have also shown they’re willing to make a deal in this window if the right one comes along. Fans remember the Billy Price-for-BJ Hill swap, and a similar kind of move could happen again after the team added Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen.
Cincinnati has already set its 2026 training camp schedule, too. Bengals Training Camp presented by Kettering Health begins Wednesday, July 29, with the first of six practices open to the public.
That includes a Friday night practice at Paycor Stadium on Aug. 7.
Four more practices will be reserved exclusively for Season Ticket Members and Waitlist Members.
And while Joe Burrow’s standing remains a talking point, not everyone is sold on where he landed on Fowler’s latest top 10 list. Former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck pushed back on NFL Live, saying Burrow is ranked way too high and pointing to his inability to stay healthy during his six-year career.
In Other News...
Bengals Linebacker Problem Could Finally Meet A Rival-Created Opening
The Bengals spent the offseason leaving their linebacker room untouched, even with questions lingering about the groups depth. That decision has kept the spotlight on a position that could still use help, especially if a younger, cost-controlled option becomes available after roster churn around the league.
Nathaniel Watson is one name worth watching because of the kind of profile Cincinnati has been willing to consider in the past. A sixth-round pick in 2024, he missed the entire 2025 season with a torn biceps, but his college rsum showed real production and enough versatility to make him more than a flier if the Browns decide to move on. [Read more 🡒]
These Bengals Camp Battles Could Reshape The Roster Fast
The Bengals head into camp with more competition than certainty in a few spots, and that is exactly how a roster can change quickly in late July. Defensive tackle looks especially crowded after the offseason added Jonathan Allen to a group that already has multiple young players trying to carve out a place, while the secondary and tight end room also feature enough bodies to make every practice rep matter.
What makes this camp worth watching is how many of those battles could spill directly into roster decisions. Dax Hill is still part of a fluid mix in the defensive backfield, and the tight end group has several players jockeying for the roles that matter most in heavier packages. On the defensive line, the numbers game is just as real, which means a strong camp from one player could come at the expense of another before the preseason even settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Tahj Brooks Has A Real Chance To Change The Bengals Backfield
Tahj Brooks enters the Bengals next stretch with a quiet but real opening in front of him. He was mostly invisible as a rookie, but Cincinnatis backfield picture is starting to shift around him, with Chase Brown on the final year of his rookie deal and Samaje Perine headed for free agency. That leaves Brooks as the only running back currently under contract beyond this season, which is not a small thing for a player who came into the league with a strong college rsum at Texas Tech and enough receiving ability to fit more than one role.
Brooks still has to turn that background into NFL production, and the path wont be simple. Perines familiarity with the offense and Browns strong play have kept the pecking order intact so far, but training camp in 2026 could give Brooks a chance to push for the backup job and make the Bengals think differently about their depth chart. For a team that may soon need answers in the backfield, his development is one of the quieter storylines worth watching. [Read more 🡒]