The Bengals are back from their Week 6 bye, and the timing couldn’t be more interesting for Zac Taylor. Cincinnati heads to Baltimore for its second division game of the 2026 season sitting at 3-2, a record that leaves plenty unresolved. The offense has flashed star power without finding real consistency, while the defense has taken steps forward without looking like a top unit in the league.
That’s the backdrop as Taylor’s job security starts to become part of the conversation. After three straight seasons without a playoff berth following two AFC Championship Game trips and a Super Bowl appearance, the pressure around the head coach is only growing.
Cincinnati is still firmly in the division race, so it’s too early to say Taylor is truly on the way out. But a rough showing against the Ravens could speed up the scrutiny.
The Bengals have also developed a reputation for slow starts under Taylor, and this season has followed that familiar script in some ways. With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in the mix, the offense has still looked ordinary at times.
The defense opened well, then slid over the last couple of weeks. And with Burrow and the rest of the core only having so many years to chase a title, the margin for wasted time is shrinking.
This weekend should say plenty about where things go from here.
On the injury front, Taylor brought some encouraging news about a key playmaker ahead of the Ravens matchup.
“He’s looked as good as he’s looked in a long time,” Taylor said. “I think last week he had a good week on what he could handle from a rehab perspective.
So this week to get him back involved, he looked good running around today. I think it’s good to finally get him back and feel like he’s closer to 100% health.”
There’s also been outside chatter about help on defense, including a push for the Bengals to pursue a 19-sack defender. Liscow pointed to Yaya Diaby as the player he likes most for Cincinnati, saying, “I would say Yaya Diaby because you could extend him and make him a part of your d-line of the future,” said Liscow on why he is so high on the Bengals adding Diaby.
“I think that would be one of the more expensive options on the list, especially when you factor in the extension required there. But pairing him with Dexter Lawrence and with Boy Mafe gives you three really good players on that defensive line to build around.”
And there’s more roster talk floating around after the Colts fired Chris Ballard. The Bengals have been mentioned as a possible trade destination for a Colts three-time Pro Bowler, though one obstacle still needs to be sorted out before anything can move forward.
On the ground, one name keeps standing out: Taylor. The source material makes clear he has been the better tailback than Brown, and the numbers back it up.
Through six games, Taylor has 492 yards and seven touchdowns on 122 carries. More than 80% of that production has come from under-center concepts, and he’s averaging 4.4 yards per carry on those runs.
That kind of output would make him a clear upgrade as Cincinnati’s lead back in the run game. For now, though, the biggest test remains Baltimore - and whatever happens there could shape the next phase of Taylor’s tenure.
In Other News...
Bengals Head Into Ravens Test With One Defensive Problem To Fix
A familiar divisional test is waiting for Cincinnati in Week 7, and the defensive staff already has one issue circled. Al Golden pointed to perimeter run defense as the area that needs the most work after the Bengals gave up too many explosive outside runs through the first five games, a problem that can turn a routine snap into a long gain in a hurry. Against Baltimore, that kind of leak becomes even more dangerous because the Ravens are built to stretch defenses horizontally before attacking downhill.
Derrick Henry is the obvious stress point, and Cincinnati knows the game could tilt if it lets Baltimore dictate terms on the ground. Zac Taylor has also framed the matchup through the turnover battle, which adds another layer to a game that figures to be physical and possession-heavy. For the Bengals, the challenge is not just slowing one of the leagues most punishing backs, but doing it while cleaning up a run defense issue that has shown up too often already. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Trade Talk Is Suddenly Focusing On A More Realistic Fix
The Bengals running game has become a lingering concern, and it has put Chase Browns uneven season squarely in the spotlight as the trade deadline chatter starts to build. Jonathan Taylor is the obvious name to float if Cincinnati wants a bigger swing, but the more practical conversation has shifted toward other backs who could be available and better fit what the offense needs right now.
Among the alternatives being discussed are Omarion Hampton, Cam Skatterbo and Tony Pollard, each of them representing a different kind of fix for a ground game that has not found enough consistency. The appeal is not just talent, but realism: Cincinnati has to weigh who might actually be obtainable, who could help quickly and which move would make the most sense for a team trying to stabilize its offense without overreaching. [Read more 🡒]
Ja'Marr Chase Finally Opened Up About That Scary Bengals Injury
Ja'Marr Chase finally gave a clearer picture of the concussion that briefly took him off the field after the Bengals game against Jacksonville, and the detail helps explain why it looked so unsettling in real time. Speaking on a podcast, Chase described it as a whiplash-style injury caused by a twisting motion, the kind of hit that can leave a player feeling fine one moment and scrambled the next.
He also walked through the leagues concussion protocol and what the recovery week was like before he got back on the field against Miami. Chase said he had to stay away from screens and leaned on reading to pass the time, a small but telling reminder of how carefully these injuries are managed once a player is in the protocol. [Read more 🡒]