The Bengals didn’t waste much time showing Joe Burrow that his message had landed.
In Cincinnati’s 16-14 preseason win over the Detroit Lions on Thursday, the defense stood out most, with the new-look unit making an early statement at Paycor Stadium. Jordan Battle’s interception highlighted the effort from the starters, while the rookies also gave the Bengals plenty to like. Burrow and the offense, meanwhile, got more reps under center than usual.
Before the game, Burrow was asked by Kay Adams whether this group could stack up with the 2021 defense that helped carry Cincinnati to Super Bowl LVI. He didn’t overdo it.
"I don't know, we'll find out. I think it's certainly one of the most talented we've had.
That doesn't always equate to production and effectiveness. I think we have the guys that are putting in the work to go out and realize these opportunities that we’ve created for ourselves.
[…] We can talk about how this is the most talented team we have, we think this is the best team we have [had], and I do feel that way. But we’ve got to go out and do it.”
That was classic Burrow: confident, but not eager to crown anybody before the work gets done. And given what Cincinnati’s defense has put him through in recent seasons, that caution makes sense.
The Bengals have been stuck trying to overcome defensive letdowns for three straight playoff-less seasons, though Burrow’s injuries have also played a major role. He missed roughly half his games in the 2023 and 2025 seasons, and in 2024 he still led the NFL in passing yards and passing TDs only to watch a big year get undercut by a poor Cincinnati defense.
This time around, the personnel looks different. Dexter Lawrence, Bryan Cook, Boye Mafe, and Jonathan Allen are among the veterans in the mix, and rookie second-rounder Cashius Howell has already flashed. In his preseason debut, Howell shared a sack with Kris Jenkins Jr., even if he wasn’t officially credited in the box score unless a retroactive correction comes through.
Linebacker remains the one spot that still raises questions, but waiver-wire pickup Swayze Bozeman has at least started to make a case as a reliable backup to Barrett Carter and/or Demetrius Knight Jr.
For now, the bigger takeaway is simple: Burrow asked for urgency, and the defense looked like it heard him. If Cincinnati really does have depth on that side of the ball, plus an offense that returns all 11 starters and an Evan McPherson-led kicking game that keeps delivering, the Bengals can start to look like a complete team.
In Other News...
Bengals Passed On One EDGE And The Debate Just Got Louder
The 2025 draft has already become a talking point for Cincinnati because of the different paths taken by two edge rushers who were on the board at the same time. Atlanta went with James Pearce Jr., while the Bengals chose Shemar Stewart, and the comparison has only sharpened as both franchises wait for those decisions to play out on the field. For Cincinnati, the appeal was obvious at the time: a young defender with big traits who could grow into a long-term piece up front.
The problem is that the early returns have not brought much clarity. Stewart has not yet matched the kind of impact the Bengals were hoping for, and his current injury only adds another layer to a pick that is still being judged. Pearce, meanwhile, is now creating a different kind of headache for Atlanta, which is why the debate over which team handled the draft slot better is only getting louder. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Depth Battle Already Produced Some Early Standouts
The Bengals preseason opener against the Lions was less about the headline names and more about the players trying to force their way into the conversation. With Joe Burrow and other starters seeing limited work, Cincinnati leaned on a mix of new defensive additions and young depth pieces in a 16-14 win that offered an early look at how the back end of the roster might begin to take shape.
Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen drew plenty of attention as part of the defenses new look, but the more immediate intrigue came from the turnover swings and timely snaps made by players battling for jobs. In August, those are the kinds of moments that matter most, and the Bengals already have a few standouts making the case that this competition could get interesting well before cutdown day. [Read more 🡒]
Swayze Bozeman Is Suddenly Pressuring One Thin Bengals Position Group
Swayze Bozeman has spent the Bengals preseason making himself harder to ignore, and that matters in a linebacker room that could use another steady body. The undrafted defender, who was claimed off waivers in May after previous stops with the Chiefs, Bears and Giants, has flashed the kind of athleticism teams tend to chase when they are sorting through the bottom of the roster. He has been working with the second-team defense and generally looks like a player who has forced the staff to keep looking.
For Cincinnati, the appeal is obvious because the path is there if he keeps stacking useful snaps. Bozemans early work has put real pressure on a thin position group, and the Bengals will have to decide whether his preseason momentum is enough to carry him into roster discussions when cuts arrive. There is still a lot to sort out, but he has done enough already to make the conversation more interesting than expected. [Read more 🡒]