The Bengals spent the offseason remaking the defensive line, and that makeover was a loud message to a couple of former premium picks. Kris Jenkins and Myles Murphy both entered the year with plenty to prove, and both opened the season by giving Cincinnati real reasons to believe.
Jenkins made the kind of splash that can change a conversation fast. Against the Buccaneers, the former Wolverine logged a sack, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit.
He did it in only eight snaps, which makes the production even harder to ignore. There’s a small asterisk on the sack - half of it should have gone to rookie Cashius Howell - but the larger point remains the same: Jenkins finally looked like a player capable of turning brief opportunities into real impact.
Cincinnati took Jenkins in the second round, 49th overall, in the 2024 Draft, and he had not yet matched that billing. In his second season last year, he finished with 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and three QB hits across 14 games.
That left him in the category of players some fans and observers had already started to wonder about, with trade chatter following him through the offseason. Now, after just one game, he’s already within striking distance of some of those totals.
The path forward could get even more interesting if BJ Hill can’t go. Hill was limited on Thursday with an Achilles after not practicing the day before, and Jenkins could be in line for a larger role if the Bengals need more help inside.
After adding Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen this offseason, Cincinnati clearly didn’t enter the year handing Jenkins anything. But his Week 1 showing at least gives the coaching staff a reason to keep feeding him snaps.
Murphy’s story has been longer and messier. The Bengals used the 28th pick in the 2023 draft on him, and his first 2.5 seasons never really caught fire.
He did start to flash late last year, but not enough to convince the team to pick up his fifth-year option. That decision set 2026 up as a contract year, with Murphy among nine players whose options were declined.
With Trey Hendrickson now in Baltimore, Murphy moved into a starting job this offseason opposite free-agent addition Boye Mafe. He answered with a half-sack, a quarterback hit, and a forced fumble that turned into one of the game’s key moments.
“D KNIGHT SAID GIMME THAT.” The Bengals are certainly hoping there’s more where that came from.
Cincinnati’s moves on the defensive line made the evaluation pretty clear. The team added Lawrence and Allen, drafted Landon Robinson in the seventh round, brought in Mafe, used its first 2026 draft pick on Howell, and had already taken Shemar Stewart in the first round two years after Murphy. That kind of turnover doesn’t happen unless the front office has spent enough time waiting for previous picks to become something more.
Now the challenge is simple: repeat it. Jenkins and Murphy both delivered against Tampa Bay, and both will be counted on again against the Houston Texans as the Bengals try to move to 2-0. Better late than never.
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Bengals Make A QB Insurance Move With Joe Burrow Uncertain
With Joe Burrow dealing with back tightness, the Bengals added a little insurance before facing the Texans by elevating quarterback Josh Johnson and linebacker Joe Giles-Harris from the practice squad to the active roster. The move gives Cincinnati an extra layer of protection at the sports most important position while also adding depth on defense for a game that could turn on how cleanly the offense operates up front.
Zac Taylor said Burrow is questionable but expected to play, and the team is focused on making sure he can go after the Houston game plan aggressively if hes cleared. Cincinnati has also been encouraged by the way its offensive line has protected in recent practices, a small but meaningful sign as the Bengals try to keep their quarterback upright and avoid any late-week surprises. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Face A Few Matchups That Could Decide Houston Trip
Cincinnati heads to Houston with a handful of pressure points that could shape the afternoon, and the most obvious one starts on the outside. Ja'Marr Chase against Derek Stingley is the kind of receiver-cornerback matchup that can tilt game plans, while rookie tackle Amarius Mims drawing Will Anderson Jr. puts the spotlight on whether the Bengals can keep Joe Burrow comfortable when the Texans bring heat.
The other battles matter just as much for a team trying to navigate a tough road trip. Houstons running backs testing the Bengals linebackers could determine whether the Texans stay on schedule, and the interior line work in front of Cincinnati figures to be a major factor as well. With C.J. Stroud directing the offense, these are the spots where the game may be decided long before the final possession arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Get An Early Chance To Silence One Big Doubt
The Bengals opened the season with a win and now get an immediate measuring-stick game in Week 2 against the Houston Texans, a matchup that looks like their toughest early test. Cincinnatis schedule eases up after this one, so this is the kind of early chance a team can use to build real momentum before the calendar starts to turn.
Houston comes in off a loss and with a few issues already hanging over it, including defensive problems and questions at quarterback. For Cincinnati, that makes Sunday more than just another early September game. It is a shot to quiet one of the main doubts about the team and set up a favorable stretch that could matter a lot by the time the early bye week arrives. [Read more 🡒]