The Bengals, Ravens and Steelers all have a little something to sort through as camp approaches, and the conversation in each building sounds pretty different.
In Cincinnati, the tackle spots at the top of the depth chart look settled enough with Amarius Mims and Orlando Brown Jr. penciled in as starters, but the swing tackle job is still open. Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher made it clear that spot is up for competition and said the next month will sort out who’s ready to claim it.
“That’s a question we will have a lot better answer to in a month’s time,” Pitcher said, via Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. “The good news is we have a lot of opportunity for guys to go show what they can do.”
Head coach Zac Taylor is expecting the starting group to benefit from continuity, and he believes the communication up front should show up in better play. He also pushed back on the idea that the Bengals’ offensive line is still living off old struggles.
“There’s a lot of experience there from a communication standpoint,” Taylor said. “That’s something that sometimes early in seasons that 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. I’m excited to see those guys play together; they finished the year really strong.
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. That has not been the case for us.
These guys have performed as well as any unit in the league.”
In Baltimore, Lamar Jackson is looking at the way people talk about him and mostly finding the whole thing amusing. After posting career lows of 349 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in 2025, Jackson said on the Ravens’ “The Lounge” podcast that the criticism has flipped over time in a way that makes the point for him.
“Early on in my career, it was, ‘He can’t throw. He’s a running back,’” Jackson said.
“Now it’s, ‘He’s not running enough.’ It’s pick your poison.”
Jackson said his approach is simple: take what defenses give him and keep the offense moving.
“I’m the type of player you’ve got to pick your poison,” Jackson said. “I’m approaching defenses with whatever they give me.
I’m going to take that. I’m trying to score.
I’m trying to move the ball down the field.”
He also said he isn’t looking to scramble just for the sake of it.
“If I don’t have to run, I’m not going to run,” Jackson said. “I’m not going to force anything. I’m trying to win, so you’ve got to use your mind.”
And in Pittsburgh, T.J. Watt is buying into a more flexible setup. With Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig both on long-term deals, the Steelers have been moving Watt around some in their work, and Watt said that kind of versatility can make the whole group tougher to handle.
“Very dynamic, very elite group,” Watt said, via the team’s website. “I think you’re going to see us moving all around.
I know I say it every year, but I think you’re truly going to see us moving all around this year. It’s a better problem to have when you have guys who are really capable to affect the game in any area.
I think that if we do things that we really set out to do in this training camp and get this thing like a well-oiled machine with us three, it’ll be special.”
Watt said he’s willing to do whatever helps disrupt an offense, whether that means changing where he lines up or creating room for someone else to attack from the edge.
“I’m just trying to be open-minded, just trying to do anything to affect [the opposing offense] whether it’s how they are doing protection schemes, how they’re running the ball. Wherever I can move around or just knock down inside, be able to allow Herbig to come outside, whatever it takes to win football games, whatever it takes to mess up the offensive scheme, I’m willing to do.”
In Other News...
Steelers May Have Finally Found A Better Way To Use Their D-Line
During the first week of Steelers training camp, the defensive line has already started to look a little different under Patrick Grahams eye. The new defensive coordinator has been experimenting with assignments that depart from how the previous staff deployed the group, with Keeanu Benton getting work at right defensive end and rookie Yahya Black sliding into nose tackle. Even veteran Cameron Heyward has taken snaps at nose tackle, a reminder that this is less about labels and more about finding the right fit for each body type and skill set.
For a defense that has long leaned on its front to set the tone, those early camp tweaks are worth watching. Pittsburgh has talent up front, but the question has been whether the coaching staff could line those pieces up in a way that gets more out of them, rather than forcing them into familiar roles. Graham is clearly testing that idea now, and the next step is seeing which of these alignments actually sticks once the pads stay on and the reps get more competitive. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Allar Is Already Showing Steelers Fans A Different Offense
The first week of training camp has given Steelers fans an early look at Drew Allar, the 2026 draft pick who already seems willing to push the ball in a way the offense has not always done in recent years. Rather than living on conservative, short-area throws, Allar has brought a more aggressive mindset to his work, and that alone has made him a notable presence as camp gets underway.
Of course, the approach comes with the usual rookie tradeoffs. Allar has also had his share of errant throws and questionable decisions, reminders that the talent is there but the refinement is still coming. He is still at the stage where experience and repetition matter most, but even with the rough edges, the early signs point to a quarterback trying to change the way this offense looks. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Highsmith Just Addressed His Steelers Future Amid Growing Tension
Alex Highsmiths place in Pittsburgh has been a quiet but important subplot around the Steelers defense, especially with the outside linebacker room drawing so much attention. Entering his seventh season, Highsmith said he wants to stay with the team for his entire career, a sentiment that carries extra weight as Pittsburgh has handed major deals to fellow edge rushers T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig at the same position.
Highsmith also pointed to the depth in the Steelers outside linebacker group, which has become one of the more competitive spots on the roster. For now, he is keeping the focus on the season ahead and on doing his part to help Pittsburgh win, even as the bigger question of his long-term future hangs in the background. [Read more 🡒]