Zac Taylor wasn’t ready to pile on Orlando Brown Jr. after the Cincinnati Bengals’ first preseason game, even with Joe Burrow taking a hit that started the conversation.
Brown had a rough outing in his preseason debut, and one play in particular stood out: he was beaten on a snap that led to a big hit on Burrow as the quarterback released the ball. For a Bengals team that lives and dies with Burrow’s health, that kind of moment naturally draws attention. Cincinnati has Joe Flacco in place as a veteran backup, but the real path to a Super Bowl runs through Burrow staying upright.
Taylor, though, kept his focus on Brown’s mindset and response.
"I think he's motivated to give us the best version of himself. He's been a strong leader on this team.
And I think anytime something doesn't go perfectly, he wears it and takes ownership for it," Taylor said when discussing Brown following the Bengals' first preseason game. "I think anytime Joe gets hit, all those guys are trying to figure out what they can do better.
And we all are. None of us want to be in that position.
And there's things that we can always do to help those guys work."
That support matters because Brown is expected to be a pillar on Cincinnati’s offensive line. The Bengals signed him to a new two-year contract this offseason, a clear vote of confidence from the front office. If he’s not steady at left tackle, the whole line can feel the pressure.
And that’s the concern in Cincinnati: the left tackle spot can’t become a weak link. Brown has to prove the investment was the right one, and the Bengals need him to settle in as the kind of anchor their offense can trust.
In Other News...
ESPN Just Reignited The Bengals Debate Around Joe Burrow
ESPNs latest NFL Future Power Rankings did not do the Bengals many favors, slotting Cincinnati 17th overall in a projection that stretches from 2027 through 2029. The forecast still gives Joe Burrow elite status, placing him among the leagues top-five quarterbacks, but it also drags the attention back to the bigger organizational question that has hovered around this team: whether the roster and infrastructure around him are built to keep pace over the long haul.
What makes the ranking sting a bit more is the way ESPN weighed the people steering the operation, with low marks for both the coaching staff and front office. Even with some recent defensive additions, the concern in the projection is less about Burrows ability than the teams ability to maximize him, especially with a large upcoming free-agent class set to test the Bengals depth and direction in the years ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Week 1 Opponent Suddenly Has A Big WR Concern
The Buccaneers have nearly four weeks before their opener against the Bengals, but one of their biggest offseason storylines already has a wrinkle. Rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is dealing with a toe sprain, and head coach Todd Bowles has called him day-to-day, week-to-week as Tampa Bay works through the early stages of camp and gets a better feel for his recovery.
Bowles stopped short of saying whether the injury will affect Egbukas availability for the Sept. 13 game in Cincinnati, which leaves Tampa Bay with a situation worth monitoring as the opener approaches. For the Bengals, it is the kind of pre-Week 1 development that can matter if the Buccaneers passing game is already forced to adjust before the season even starts. [Read more 🡒]
Dalton Risner Sends Bengals Fans A Reality Check On Playoff Hopes
Dalton Risner sounds like he understands exactly where the Bengals are trying to go, and why August is no time to get ahead of themselves. The veteran guard said he is excited about the possibility of helping Cincinnati get back to the playoffs, but he kept the focus where the team wants it in training camp, stressing the need to take things one day at a time and do the work required to build something that lasts.
For a Bengals team that has made offseason additions and is trying to navigate a rugged AFC North, that kind of message fits the moment. The division is still loaded with challenges, and with coaching changes swirling around rival clubs, Cincinnati can like its direction without pretending anything is guaranteed. Risners perspective is a reminder that playoff hopes are built long before the standings start to matter, and the real test is whether the Bengals can turn that quiet confidence into results once the games count. [Read more 🡒]