The Bengals spent Nov. 10 watching the rest of the AFC get stronger while their own roster stayed exactly where it was.
That’s the twist after a stretch that had Cincinnati feeling good about itself. The Bengals had won four straight, sat at 6-2, and returned from a successful week abroad in Madrid, where the organization was praised for how it handled itself on and off the field at the Bernabeu stadium. Then comes a primetime home game against the Steelers, who share the AFC North lead at 6-2, and the conversation around the team suddenly changed.
It changed because Cincinnati reportedly backed out of a deal for Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, then finished the rest of the trade deadline without making another move.
That left the Bengals standing still while several AFC rivals moved.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, who lead the AFC South at 6-1, made multiple marquee additions. The Buffalo Bills, sitting atop the AFC East at 7-1, strengthened their defense by landing Amani Hooker, a player Bengals fans will remember from Nov. 1, when he intercepted Joe Burrow three times as a Tennessee Titans player. And just before the 4 p.m. deadline, the Chiefs upgraded their offense by adding receiver Josh Downs.
Maybe Cincinnati looked at the market and decided the price was too steep. If the options on the table would have cost too much draft capital, then the Bengals may have been right to pass. But the bottom line is simple: their roster did not change, and the teams they’re most likely to run into in a deep postseason chase mostly did.
The biggest question mark that remained untouched was the run game.
Cincinnati ranks third-worst in the NFL in rushing at 85.6 yards per game, with only the Raiders and Packers sitting lower. The Bengals have been held under 100 rushing yards in five of their eight games, and Chase Brown’s top rushing output this season is 80 yards, which came in Week 2.
That’s why so many eyes were on the possibility of a backfield addition, with Colts running back Jonathan Taylor floated as a name that could fit. But without knowing what Indianapolis would have asked for, it’s fair to say Cincinnati may have been wise to stay away.
Even so, the team did nothing to bolster a running back room that has been more frustrating than productive in 2026.
Defense was another place where help seemed possible, but none arrived.
Al Golden’s unit has been good enough to keep the Bengals in games. Cincinnati has held opponents under 20 points in half its games, and the defense has allowed more than 27 points only once, in the Nov. 1 win over the Titans. At 21.9 points allowed per game, the group has given the offense a chance every week and can even claim a major share of the credit for one of the team’s six victories.
Still, the cracks are there. The Bengals remain in the bottom third of the league in yards allowed at 354.9 per game, and the deadline came and went without any help for a defense that could have used more depth.
In Other News...
Kentucky Gets Another Early Chance To Make A National Statement
The Champions Classic is back Tuesday night at Chicagos United Center, and for Kentucky it brings another one of those early-season stages that can shape the national conversation before conference play even begins. Since the event was created in 2011, the doubleheader featuring Michigan State, Duke, Kansas and Kentucky has become one of college basketballs most recognizable showcases, a spot where rankings, reputations and first impressions all get tested in a hurry.
For the Wildcats, the matchup with Kansas is more than just another November game. It is a chance to measure themselves against a perennial power in a setting built for high-end competition, with the kind of spotlight that can tell a lot about where a team stands and where it still needs work. Even in a season that is still just getting started, this is the sort of night that can carry real weight. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Is In A Real Recruiting Fight With North Carolina
Kentuckys recruiting board for the 2027 class already has one of its biggest names circled in CJ Rosser, a five-star power forward who sits near the top of the national rankings. The Wildcats have not just offered Rosser, they have made him a priority, bringing him to campus for both official and unofficial visits as they work to stay in the mix for a prospect with the kind of upside that can shape a class.
North Carolina is in the same battle, and the Tar Heels recent commitments have not cooled their interest in Rosser. For Kentucky, the appeal goes beyond tradition and playing time, with the program also believed to have a strong hand when it comes to NIL opportunities, which could matter in a race this tight. The next steps in Rossers recruitment should tell a lot about whether the Wildcats can turn early priority into real momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Faces Its First Real Test Against A Title Contender
Kentuckys early-season tune-up phase gives way to something far more revealing in the College Basketball Champions Classic, where Kansas arrives as the kind of opponent that can show a team exactly where it stands. The Wildcats have handled James Madison and Manhattan to open the year, but this one should tell a much clearer story about how ready they are for the level of pressure that comes with title-contender basketball.
For Kentucky, the formula starts with making shots from deep and keeping Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes from taking over the game. The Wildcats will also need meaningful production from newcomers Alex Wilkins and Zoom Diallo, two players whose early-season contributions could matter even more against a team with Kansas size, talent and edge. [Read more 🡒]