The Bengals are heading into the 2026 season opener against the Bucs with one more encouraging sign for an offense that already expects to carry plenty of weight: Erick All Jr. is cleared and ready to be part of the plan.
That’s the key takeaway from Zac Taylor’s update on Tuesday. The Cincinnati head coach said All is not just back, but fully cleared and included in the game plan. For a team that has spent the offseason reshaping its defense while still leaning on its big-play offense, that matters.
All’s return carries real significance because his development was interrupted before it could really take off. In 2024, he was trying to carve out a steady role in the Bengals’ offense before tearing his ACL nine games into his rookie season. Then complications from the surgery to repair that tear wiped out his entire 2025 season.
He didn’t see preseason action this year, but Taylor’s comments suggest the Bengals are not treating him like a player who needs to be eased in slowly.
All himself sounded ready during training camp. He told reporters he felt prepared to play and said he got hit by a small truck while vacationing overseas. After that, All said, he knew he was ready for football.
There’s still a reason to keep an eye on his health. All’s injury history goes back to college, and that will always be part of the conversation with him. Even so, Taylor’s update pointed to a player the Bengals expect to use right away rather than hold back.
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Bengals Final Roster Leaves Two Thin Spots Fans Will Watch Closely
The Bengals have set their 53-man roster for the regular season, and the final group brings a mix of familiar names, a few surprises and a roster that looks capable of competing right away. Landon Robinson made the cut, Ke'Shawn Williams earned a spot at wide receiver while also handling return duties, and Josh Newton was added after Ja'Sir Taylor landed on injured reserve, giving Cincinnati a few clear answers as the team moves from roster construction into game planning.
Still, the list is not without some areas to monitor, especially when it comes to depth at linebacker and running back. Those spots can look a little thinner than the rest of the roster, which is why the Bengals will be leaning on the overall upside of both their offense and defense to carry them through the early part of the season while those backup roles settle into place. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Depth Battle Just Got More Interesting Before Week 1
The Bengals used the week leading into the opener to keep tinkering with the bottom of the roster, officially confirming their 2026 practice squad while also giving the 53-man group another new face in former Colts offensive tackle Blake Freeland. Cincinnatis latest moves fit the larger pattern of a team still sorting out depth, especially up front, with the front office and coaching staff clearly willing to keep mixing experienced additions with developmental pieces as the season approaches.
Myles Hintons move onto the active roster adds another layer to that picture, because it shows the Bengals are not just filling spots, but trying to create real competition at positions where reliability can matter quickly. Taylor framed the additions as part of the ongoing competition and growth process, and for players fighting to stick, this is exactly the kind of late-summer window that can change a path before Week 1 arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Offense May Look Very Different When Week 1 Arrives
The Bengals have spent the preseason showing a clearer offensive identity, and it has started with how often Joe Burrow is being asked to sell the run before pulling up to throw. Cincinnati has leaned harder into play-action, using it far more than it did in the previous regular season, and Burrow has acknowledged the teams commitment to building explosive plays off the ground game. It is a noticeable shift for an offense that has often been associated with Burrow operating from more familiar passing looks.
The bigger wrinkle is where that action is coming from. Under-center play-action has become a more visible part of the plan, and that is a meaningful change in philosophy under Zac Taylor. For a Bengals offense that has been at its best when Burrow can diagnose quickly and attack downfield, the question now is how different the Week 1 version really looks once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]