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Bengals ranked as the No. 1 non-playoff team poised to return to the postseason

2025-08-04T16:59:23-04:00

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 29: Sam Hubbard #94 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after recovering a fumble against the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter in the AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 29, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. | Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Bengals have the talent to easily make a return to the playoffs this season.

The 2024 Cincinnati Bengals may be one of the most talented teams in NFL history to miss the NFL Playoffs.

Despite having the NFL’s leading passer in yards and touchdowns and the NFL’s receiving Triple Crown leader, not to mention the NFL’s sacks leader, the incredible seasons of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Trey Hendrickson weren’t enough to get the Bengals into the Playoffs.

After two 9-8 seasons, the goal for the Bengals is clear in 2025: Make the playoffs, at the very least.

Pro Football and Sports Network is clearly in on the Bengals' chances to get back to the Playoffs this season, ranking the Bengals No. 1 among non-playoff teams in 2024 to get back there this season.

“The Cincinnati Bengals’ defense still threatens to be one of the worst in the league this year, but the team’s offense puts them above every other team on this list. The Bengals scored the seventh-most points in the NFL last season, but were the only team in the top 11 in that stat to miss the postseason.

“In fact, the Bengals outscored the Steelers by 101 points in 2024, but it was their divisional rivals who advanced. Cincinnati will need to tighten things up, starting with an end to the Trey Hendrickson saga that has plagued their offseason.

“If new defensive coordinator Al Golden can get even average numbers from his players this year, the Bengals should be Super Bowl contenders, let alone playoff hopefuls.

When you see that the Bengals scored 101 more points than the Steelers last season, it just adds salt to the wound that they didn’t make the NFL Playoffs. It’s been a bad taste in the mouths of players and coaches this offseason.

One thing is clear, though: A better start and better September to ensure that what happened the last two seasons doesn’t happen again this season.

Geno Stone looking to prove Bengals were right to not look for new safety

2025-08-04T16:26:29-04:00

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Last year wasn’t great, but it started on an upward trend. Is that enough?

It seemed like the Cincinnati Bengals made the right move when they brought in Geno Stone as a free agent safety. Not only was he coming off a seven-interception season, but Lou Anarumo and Zac Taylor stole him away from the Baltimore Ravens.

Now Anarumo is gone and there are new faces all over the defense.

Everywhere except for the secondary, that is.

So Stone is back, much to the chagrin of some fans.

Geno Stone

Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 26
College: Iowa
Hometown: New Castle, PA
Experience: 4 years

Cap Status

Stone signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Bengals heading into the 2024 season, and earned $7,738,762 (total cash) last year. He restructured his contract following the disappointing season and now heads into the new season with a one-year, $4.9 million contract, which includes $1.5 million guaranteed.

Background

Stone was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round of the 2020 draft. After a somewhat rocky start that included multiple waivers and a brief period of time with the Texans, he returned to Baltimore in 2021 and gradually carved out a role on defense.

By 2023, Stone had a breakout season, as mentioned above, with seven interceptions, 68 tackles, and nine passes broken up.

The Bengals grabbed Stone as a free agent in March of 2024, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Geno Stone with a nice pass break up here on a would be Chase Brown touchdown. #Bengals @FOX19 pic.twitter.com/fl3rCXeBYF
— Gabi Sorrentino (@GSorrentinoTV) July 25, 2025

Outlook on the 2025 season and beyond

Stone struggled throughout the majority of the season. He did pick off three passes over the last five games, but two of those three games were against poor offenses, and the other was against the Cowboys, who always seem to get in their own way (even more than the Bengals).

The front office and Taylor obviously feel that he improved enough over the final quarter of the season that he was worth keeping around (that and being $3 million cheaper). Now comes Al Golden, the Bengals’ new defensive coordinator, who most recently coached the Notre Dame defense to the National Championship. They’re hoping Golden gets every ounce of good defense he can out of Stone in the one year he’s under contract.

Geno Stone on Al Golden and the #Bengals defense:

“One thing I’ll say about Al is he lets us run the defense. It’s not pre-checks. Whatever you see out there, he lets us call what it is.”

“He lets us know that we have full control of the defense.”

(via @ByJayMorrison) pic.twitter.com/ow3L1iy0jh
— SleeperBengals (@SleeperBengals) July 23, 2025

The better he plays for the Bengals, the better off their defense will be, obviously, but it will also be better for Stone, who’s probably looking to prove 2023 with the Ravens wasn’t a fluke. If he can do that, he could be looking at one more lucrative deal before age forces him to hang up his cleats or take a back seat on a depth chart.

The safety position has been a mess since Jessie Bates left Cincinnati for Atlanta, where he continues to play at an All-Pro level for the Falcons. The Bengals, in the meantime, have gone from Bates to Dax Hill (now a corner), Nick Scott (now on a one-year deal with the Panthers), and, finally, Stone.

If Stone and Golden can get on the same page, as well as with Jordan Battle, the team’s other likely starting safety, the defense could see a resurgence of the fantastic secondary they had over the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

But even if Stone struggles, the only people behind him are Tycen Anderson and Daijahn Anthony, neither of whom looks ready for significant playing time, let alone a starting role.

For better or for worse, Geno Stone is going to play a major role for the Bengals defense in 2025.

We’ve seen Joe Burrow come over to Geno Stone to talk after a certain set, now Ja’Marr Chase does the same.

Communication has been a big key for the #Bengals. Watching it play out here.@FOX19 pic.twitter.com/tCnzglZ84T
— Regan Holgate (@HolgateRegan) August 2, 2025

Tee Higgins says Bengals plan to move him around formations more, and 100 receptions is his goal

2025-08-04T15:59:03-04:00

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Nickel corners around the NFL should be scared.

The Cincinnati Bengals' offense has the potential to be at the top of the NFL next season.

Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins are the foundation for an incredible offense, no matter how you slice it. The only question is how they can keep things fresh and opposing defenses guessing.

When ESPN's Jeremy Fowler visited the Bengals training camp, he talked with Higgins about how he will be getting moved around the formation more this season, which includes time in the slot, and how that might change his production:

"That's what they are trying to get out of me, put me in different places and different spots on the field," Higgins said. "Sometimes I'm in the slot, running routes I haven't run." Higgins believes he can take advantage of that as "a big guy in the slot, usually having a nickel on me, a smaller guy."

Can the changes -- and a full season -- result in his first 100-catch campaign? "That's the plan," he said with a smile.

Cincinnati started doing this with Ja'Marr Chase a couple of seasons ago. It helped increase his opportunities to avoid double teams and get the ball in open space.

It appears they are hoping the same can be done for Higgins. It would certainly be a mismatch to have him go against a traditionally smaller defensive back inside. His height and ability to make catches away from his body would make those 50/50 balls even more in his favor.

You also see the slot running quicker routes and are often the hot option in the event of a blitz. That can increase the number of targets and, therefore, the number of catches a receiver has. So that 100 reception mark becomes more realistic.

Here is hoping the move ends up being a fruitful one for Higgins and the Bengals. It'd be nice to see him snatching passes over tiny defensive backs.

Bengals vs. Eagles time, TV channel, online stream, radio, and more

2025-08-04T14:51:54-04:00

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

How to watch the Bengals' first preseason action of the 2025 season.

The Cincinnati Bengals get to start the 2025 NFL preseason off against the Philadelphia Eagles, who won the Super Bowl last season.

Funnily enough, these two teams met in Week 8 with both teams seemingly at a crossroads in their seasons. The Bengals were 3-4, looking to get to .500, and the Eagles were 4-2 after a 2-2 start to the season. It felt like a game that could really help catapult either team into the second half of the season.

Well, Philadelphia won that game, and they went on to only lose a single other game the rest of the season, while Cincinnati finished one game away from the playoffs.

That is the past, though. This is preseason football. More importantly, it represents a new approach for the Bengals in their preseason, aiming to start stronger. Previously, we talked about how you’d be lucky to see any starters out there in any of these games. Head coach Zac Taylor has confirmed that starters will be playing this time around.

Obviously, they still won’t be out there long, and if anyone is dealing with a nagging injury, they’ll likely be in street clothes. This is all about balancing risk and reward. It is helpful to get these guys some actual live reps prior to the regular season. However, you don’t want to see anyone get hurt in an exhibition game that ultimately means nothing.

Still, we will likely see plenty of the rookies and players fighting for spots on the team this week. That is always the highlight of the preseason. Getting to see guys you usually don’t get the chance to work with to make their NFL dreams a reality.

Cincinnati Bengals (0-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (0-0)

Date/Time: Aug. 7th, 2025 at 7:30 pm ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TV Channel: Live coverage on the Bengals Preseason TV Network with broadcasters Mike Watts (play-by-play), Anthony Muñoz (analyst), and Marisa Contipelli (sideline reporter). The network is led by flagship WXIX-TV (FOX Channel 19) in Cincinnati. Also on the network are WKEF-TV (Ch. 22) in Dayton, Ohio; WSYX-TV (Ch. 6) in Columbus, Ohio; WLIO-TV (Ch. 8.2) in Lima, Ohio; WLEX-TV (Ch. 18; Bounce TV 18.3) in Lexington, Ky.; and WDRB-TV (Ch. 41) in Louisville, Ky.
Online Stream: NFL+
Replay: NFL+ and NFL Network (check local listings)
Radio Broadcast: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship radio stations WCKY-AM (1530) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst).
SB Nation Eagles’ site: Bleeding Green Nation
Rosters: CIN | PHI

Can you guess this Bengals cornerback in today’s in-5 trivia game?

2025-08-04T07:00:00-04:00

Think you can figure out which Bengals player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Bengals fans! We’re back for another day of the Cincy Jungle in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

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Sunday, August 3, 2025
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Cincy Jungle in-5 instructions

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Bengals player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Who Dey!

Cincinnati Bengals 53-man Roster Prediction: Eagles Game Week Edition

2025-08-04T07:00:00-04:00

Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Here’s a second look at the Bengals’ possible final roster.

The Cincinnati Bengals play football on Thursday! It’s only preseason football, but it’s better than no football! Zac Taylor says Joe Burrow and the rest of the starters will play, but it’s unclear as to how much. Hopefully, we see a well-oiled machine on the field in Philadelphia Thursday night, but at worst, we’ll see some new faces get some game action.

As we head into the team’s first of three preseason games, here’s my second go at predicting the Bengals’ 53-man roster.

Go here for Version 1.0.

Quarterback (2)

Joe Burrow
Jake Browning

Notes: No changes here. Browning has done it when it matters, and as much as it would be awesome to see a local UC kid get the backup spot, the team has to do what’s best. Right now, Browning is best.

Running Back (3)

Chase Brown
Samaje Perine
Tahj Brooks

Notes: I’m keeping an extra offensive player, which means I have to sacrifice someone somewhere. As much as I like Chase Brown and the other running backs, it’s easily among the least important positions on the Bengals’ roster. This offense flows through the quarterback and the passing game. Having a running game is just gravy.

So three running backs it is.

Wide Receiver (6)

Ja’Marr Chase
Tee Higgins
Andrei Iosivas
Charlie Jones
Jermaine Burton
Isaiah Williams

Notes: There’s not much difference here. Those top five spots are locks, barring injury, but Isaiah Williams appears on the team’s first official depth chart behind Tee Higgins, so, at least for now, he’s WR6.

Tight End (4)

Mike Gesicki
Noah Fant
Drew Sample
Tanner Hudson

Notes: The Bengals added Fant as a free agent last week on a one-year deal. The former first-round pick will provide Burrow with another downfield threat from the tight end position to pair with Gesicki. This does mean Tanner McLachlan is out.

Offensive Line (10)

Orlando Brown Jr.
Dylan Fairchild
Ted Karras
Lucas Patrick
Amarius Mims
Cody Ford
Cordell Volson
Matt Lee
Devin Cochran
Jalen Rivers

Notes: I had the Bengals keeping nine linemen in my first go, but that’s changing to 10 in version 2.0. For the Bengals, the name of the game on offense is going to be keeping Burrow upright so he can do what he does best. Despite the fireworks on offense throughout the 2024 season, Burrow was hit way too much. There is a good offensive line in this group of 10 guys. The coaches just need to find it.

Defensive Line (10)

Trey Hendrickson
BJ Hill
T.J. Slaton Jr.
Joseph Ossai
Shemar Stewart
Myles Murphy
McKinnley Jackson
Kris Jenkins Jr.
Cam Sample
Cedric Johnson

Notes: Stewart is under contract, and Hendrickson is back in Cincinnati “holding in.” It’s better than holding out in Jacksonville, and since there’s positive movement, I’m still assuming Hendrickson is going to be starting for the Bengals in 2025. No other changes.

Linebackers (5)

Logan Wilson
Demetrius Knight Jr.
Oren Burks
Barrett Carter
Maema Njongmeta

Notes: I thought about losing Njongmeta for that extra offensive lineman, but decided against it. The defense was the cause of most of the team’s woes in 2024, and I’d feel more comfortable losing a running back than a fifth linebacker.

Cornerback (6)

Cam Taylor-Britt
DJ Turner
Dax Hill
Josh Newton
DJ Ivey
Marco Wilson

Notes: There’s a minor change here. On the Bengals’ first depth chart, they have Hill as the team’s starting nickel corner, and instead of Jalen Davis, Mike Hilton’s long-time backup, behind him, Josh Newton is. So Davis is out and Wilson is in as CB6.

Safety (4)

Geno Stone
Jordan Battle
Tycen Anderson
Daijahn Anthony

Notes: No change here.

Special Teams (3)

Evan McPherson (K)
Ryan Rehkow (P)
Cal Adomitis (LS)

Notes: No change here.

What are your thoughts?

Sound off!

Who Dey!

Bengals News (8/4): Should Cincinnati sign Will Hernandez?

2025-08-04T06:30:00-04:00

Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Should the Bengals add some depth to their offensive line? (Yes)

Training Camp Recap Day 9
"He's so poised on the line of scrimmage. He doesn't do anything fast. He tries to manipulate either the cadence or some kind of pre-snap tell. And he has so many answers," Golden said.

Bengals 2025 Depth Chart first look
The coaches consider the first depth chart of a season not worth the paper it's printed on because of unfinished training camp battles, but it's compulsory during a game week and is largely crafted by the Bengals' public relations department.

Bengals Training Camp Day 9 Five Observations
"It's a game of physical violence," Mims said. "I'm going to be in pain for the rest of my life every day as long as I play football. But you've got to fight through it for the greater good of the team."

Shemar Stewart Shines at Saturday Night Stadium Practice
Left guard Dylan Fairchild, a third-round pick, had a dominant night in one-on-one pass rush, either face-planting his foe or stoning them at the point of attack. Running Tahj Brooks, a sixth-rounder, darted into the second level often on screens and runs.

Bengals Training Camp Day 8 Five Observations
"That's definitely a known thing," said Fant. "That's one of the enticing things about coming here, and hopefully l'm able to do so. But first and foremost, it's help the team win."

Three NFL teams that could make Will Hernandez a starter again after veteran guard is cleared to return from 2024 ACL injury - A to Z Sports
With the calendar poised to turn to August, the free agent market still offers some promising names that have made strong contributions in recent years as starting talent.

Bengals' blunt honesty about Shemar Stewart is a good sign
This versatility likely means Stewart can play a big rotational part in the base defense right away. National headlines might end up hitting him if he doesn’t put up huge sack numbers right away, but kicking all over the line as a dynamic three-down presence brings some major value.

Noah Fant contract details with Bengals revealed
For the sake of comparison, Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki has a base of $5.4 million and a $7.66 million cap number in 2025, the first of his three-year extension signed this offseason.

Bengals, Hamilton County finalize Paycor Stadium lease through 2036
The Cincinnati Bengals and Hamilton County have finalized a new lease that will keep the club's home games at Paycor Stadium through at least the 2026 season, the team announced Friday.

Chase Brown compared to Austin Ekeler by Bengals

2025-08-04T06:00:00-04:00

Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

What do you all think?

Week One of the NFL season is quickly approaching as the Cincinnati Bengals look for a bounce-back year.

Despite a 9-8 record, the offense last season was one of the best units in the league as Joe Burrow returned to his old form and dominated defenses through the air. With a plethora of skill options, one of the newer names to the team is running back Chase Brown.

A fifth-round pick back in 2023, Brown has become the lead back in the Queen City and put up solid numbers during that transition last season. Now this offseason, he is garnering a comparison from offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher, that will open some eyes to his play.

Pitcher spoke with Jori Epstein and had this to say about the talented running back, comparing him to Washington Commanders standout Austin Ekeler.

“I think Chase Brown is going to, by the end of the season, be a household name. He’s everything that Austin Ekeler was. ...I think that by the time the season’s over, [you’ll all] know who he is.”

Brown shined in last season's offense, and is likely to take another major step forward this coming season. If that is true, it could be a fun offense once again at Paycor Stadium.

Bengals coaches & players very high on RB Chase Brown.

"I think Chase Brown is going to, by the end of the season, be a household name," OC Dan Pitcher tells me. He's everything that Austin Ekeler was. ...I think that by the time the season's over, [you'll all] know who he is."
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) July 23, 2025