As training camp draws closer and the 2026 Bengals start to take shape, one of the bigger questions on the roster is simple: which projected starter is closest to losing his job?
It’s a strong-looking team overall, but there are still a few spots where the depth chart could shift before long. And when it comes to players most likely to get pushed aside, the conversation starts on defense.
Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter are the obvious names in the linebacker room. Both had rough rookie seasons, and both are already under a bright spotlight heading into Year 2. The problem for anyone looking to replace them is that the Bengals don’t have a ton of obvious alternatives waiting in the wings, and the team still hasn’t shown interest in free agents like Bobby Wagner.
Safety could be another place where the Bengals make a change. Jordan Battle has been up and down, and while his supporting cast hasn’t done him many favors, this feels like a make-or-break stretch for him. With Bryan Cook and Dexter Lawrence now in the mix, Battle has to prove right away that he belongs in the lineup.
Then there’s Myles Murphy, who might be the sleeper answer. He’s flashed at times, but he hasn’t yet put together a complete season. And with Shemar Stewart and second-round rookie Cashius Howell both trying to carve out roles on the edge, Murphy can’t afford a slow start if he wants to keep his spot.
In Other News...
Bengals May Have A Cheap Answer To A Familiar Backfield Fear
The Bengals have spent enough time worrying about backfield depth to know when a cheap insurance policy is worth exploring, and a trade idea floating around this week fits that mold. With the Chargers adding more bodies to their running back room, Cincinnati could potentially find a usable reserve without paying much more than a late-round draft pick.
For a team that wants steadiness behind Chase Brown and Samaje Perine, the appeal is obvious: a young runner who already showed he can handle a meaningful workload and chip in as a receiver, too. The question is whether the asking price stays low enough to make sense for Cincinnati, because the whole point of a move like this is avoiding a bigger problem later. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals May Finally Have Their Answer Protecting Joe Burrow
Amarius Mims arrived in Cincinnati with the kind of expectations that come with protecting Joe Burrow, and after getting thrown into the lineup early in his rookie season, he has settled in with the sort of steady progress the Bengals were hoping to see. The most encouraging part for Cincinnati is that the 2025 starting offensive line is set to return intact, giving the team continuity up front and a cleaner path for Mims to keep building on what he showed in his first year or so.
Mims has also had a helpful partner on the right side in Dalton Risner, and he has publicly credited Risner with helping his development. If that pairing keeps growing together, the Bengals could be looking at a much more stable answer on the edge than they have had in recent seasons, with Mims emerging as a breakout name to watch as the next chapter unfolds. [Read more 🡒]