Zac Taylor isn’t buying the old line on the Bengals’ offensive line anymore.
The Cincinnati coach said the group’s reputation has lagged behind what it has actually done, pointing to a unit that returns all five starters and comes into the season with real continuity. In Taylor’s view, that matters - especially when it comes to the kind of communication issues that can snowball into sacks early in a year.
“There’s a lot of experience there,” Taylor said. “From a communication standpoint, that’s something that sometimes early in seasons gets you some sacks with overall communication because you have a revolving door at a position or you have new guys at a position. Now, that excuse does not exist for us.”
The expected starting five - Orlando Brown Jr., Dylan Fairchild, Ted Karras, Dalton Risner, and Amariius Mins - are set to begin the season together after building momentum late last year. Taylor made it clear he likes where that group is headed.
“I’m excited to see those guys play together,” Taylor said. “They finished the year really strong.”
He also took aim at how the Bengals’ line is still talked about outside the building.
“Sometimes nationally, there’s a really lazy narrative that our offensive line isn’t very good because they look at years ago and some issues we had,” Taylor said. “That has not been the case for us. These guys have performed as well as any unit in the league.”
Brown echoed that sentiment when he spoke with our own Russ Heltman, saying the group wants to change the conversation once and for all.
"I think taking that next step to kind of kill this narrative in the media, and I don't want that to be misconstrued with our approach," Brown said. "But we are top dogs, and we got a really special unit, and to be honest, like there isn't a lot of guys across the NFL that could play in this Bengal system and be as good as they are on a different team, just based on what's asked of us..."
Brown also pointed to the daily grind of pass protection, where Cincinnati’s linemen are often left in tough one-on-one matchups.
"Anybody that plays this sport will tell you, pass protection is the hardest thing to do, and the fact that you've got five guys that are leading their position in one-on-one pass blocks across the board throughout the course of a season. That's rare. And so for us, it's about us setting the tone."
For years, the Bengals’ offensive line has been a target for criticism, blamed for holding back the offense and, at times, the team itself. Taylor and Brown sound ready to leave that storyline behind.
In Other News...
Noah Thomas Is Giving Bengals Fans A New Camp Receiver To Watch
Training camp always creates a few new names for fans to track, and Noah Thomas has already worked his way into that conversation. During a Bengals practice, the rookie wide receiver made a notable contested catch that turned heads, then added another grab on a shorter pass from Joe Flacco. It was the kind of early-camp sequence that can matter for an undrafted or late-round player trying to show he belongs in a crowded receiver room.
Ja'Marr Chase noticed, too, and his praise carried some weight. Chase pointed to Thomass ability in jump-ball situations and even drew a comparison to Tee Higgins, which is the sort of endorsement that can get attention quickly around camp. For a Bengals offense built around proven pass catchers, Thomas is still very much in the proving stage, but he has at least given fans a reason to keep watching every rep. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals May Have An In-House Answer To Shemar Stewarts Absence
Shemar Stewarts injury has pushed the Bengals to look harder at their edge-rush depth, and Isaiah Foskey has emerged as a name worth watching in camp. The former Notre Dame standout joined Cincinnati last season and already has a built-in connection to coach Al Golden, which gives him a familiar foothold as the team sorts through options for shoring up the pass rush.
Foskey flashed in limited action a year ago and has been working toward a bigger role, with the kind of versatility that can matter when a roster spot is up for grabs. For Cincinnati, the question now is whether that early promise and his comfort in Goldens defensive system can translate into the chance to help replace what Stewart was supposed to provide. [Read more 🡒]
Zac Taylor Sent Bengals Camp A Message Fans Wont Ignore
Training camp has given Zac Taylor a chance to reset the tone after a 6-11 season that left plenty of unfinished business in Cincinnati. The Bengals coach, along with newcomers and returning players, has been framing last year less as a weight to carry and more as fuel to push the group forward, with Dalton Risner and DJ Turner also addressing how the team has handled the disappointment.
Taylor said the record from last season is motivation, not baggage, and he has described the upcoming chase as something that brings excitement rather than pressure. Turner, meanwhile, made it clear he is tired of the team being defined by what happened a year ago and wants the focus on what comes next, which is exactly the kind of mindset Cincinnati needs as camp ramps up and expectations follow it every day. [Read more 🡒]