It's finally here: the Cincinnati Bengals open their regular season at home against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday. After what has been the most active offseason Cincinnati has had since 2021-- when they brought in numerous players who would contribute to their Super Bowl run, such as Trey Hendrickson, Mike Hilton, D.J. Reader, Larry Ogunjobi, and so on-- we finally get to see this team play meaningful football.
Between big-time free agency additions, one massive trade, and a promising draft class to tie things together, the Cincy faithful's excitement is peaking as football returns. However, alongside the enthusiasm are some questions, including ones that linger from previous seasons.
So, with that in mind, let's look at three questions that will be answered in their Week 1 bout vs. Tampa Bay.
All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
Will Burrow and the offense start slow yet again?
Unfortunately, slow starts (specifically for the offense) have been a theme of the Joe Burrow-Zac Taylor era of Bengals football. Outside of their 2021 season opener, when Burrow threw for 261 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Bengals beat the Vikings in overtime 27-24, the offense's Week 1 performances have been forgettable at best and absolutely atrocious at worst.
Granted, Burrow's two worst games-- the four-pick fiasco vs. Pittsburgh in 2022 and the 14/31 82-yard opener @ Cleveland in 2023-- did largely stem from limited action in camp due to appendicitis and a calf injury, respectively. That said, even when he's had relatively normal and healthy offseasons/training camps, the offense has still struggled immensely.
The good news is that last year showed that they could still pull out a win even if the offense comes out at a snail's pace, like they tend to. Despite only putting up seven (yes, 7) yards in the second half of their season opener in Cleveland, the Bengals still hung on to win 17-16 against their hapless in-state rival. Of course, this year's Tampa Bay squad is better than last year's Browns; however, the Bengals' defense is also shaping up to be better than last year's unit, considering their acquisitions and the fact that last year's was the worst in the league.
Nonetheless, even if the Bengals can win with a stagnant offense, it doesn't mean we should be crossing our fingers for the bare minimum. If they want to avoid playing catch-up in the division, like they have been every year since 2021, then Burrow and the offense need to pull their weight from the start rather than taking all of September to warm up.
The question is, will they? Or will watching Bengals football in September feel like a chore yet again?
How much will we see of Cincinnati's 2026 rookie class?
Despite trading away their first-round pick to acquire All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence in the lead-up to the 2026 NFL Draft, this is probably the most harmonious Bengals fans have been about a draft class in recent years. You ask anyone who follows the Bengals closely, and they'll tell you it felt like they changed their entire draft process this year, trying to get guys who can contribute from day one rather than projects that could take years to develop.
That being said, when the Bengals released their first official 53-man depth chart of the season earlier this week, none of the rookies were listed as starters. So, that begs the question: how much of this 2026 rookie class will we actually see early on in the year? They don't have to start to contribute, after all.
While some players' draft pedigree and positions lend them to likely having a "redshirt" type rookie year-- such as Connor Lew, Brian Parker II, and Landon Robinson (more so due to the guys ahead of him)-- there are players who are expected to play a major role on the team from Week 1. Cashius Howell and Tacario Davis, specifically.
With Trey Hendrickson's messy departure, the EDGE room lacks a clear alpha, meaning we'll see a lot of rotation there and, in turn, a lot of Cashius Howell. Especially on third downs since he slots in as a pass rush specialist. As for Tacario Davis, he's had a strong camp and preseason and has received a lot of praise from defensive coordinator Al Golden. Not to mention, he can fill the role of a big nickel to shut down opposing tight ends.
And if DJ Turner's sudden hamstring flare-up limits him in Week 1, then it's a guarantee we'll see a lot of the Washington alum.
Beyond those two, we could also see a little bit of fourth-round pick Colbie Young and seventh-round tight end Jack Endries. There's been talk of a WR3-by-committee this year after more competition was added to the mix and Young could see the field quite a bit on Sunday.
Same for Endries; him playing tight end means he could end up seeing the field earlier than many have anticipated, even though he's TE4 on the depth chart, as the Bengals have had a heavy rotation of tight ends in recent years. Last year, Gesicki, Sample, Fant, and Tanner Hudson all saw a decent number of snaps, with Hudson being the lowest at 15%. With that in mind, the former Longhorn could see the field at least a little bit from the start.
Will the sophomore linebackers take a step up with a vastly improved defensive line in front of them?
Even with all the additions made this offseason on the defensive side of the ball, the conversation always finds its way back to the linebacker situation. For good reason, mind you, as 2025 rookies Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter were two of the worst in the league at the position, and the front office addressed everything else on that side of the ball. Aside from Swayze Bozeman, who came on late and earned a spot on the final 53 as a special teamer/depth guy, they didn't sign or draft anyone at the linebacker position.
So, it goes without saying that Knight and Carter have the trust of Al Golden, and we'll see if that's the right call. To be fair to the pair of sophomore linebackers, it would be harsh to write them off after one year. For one, there's always a learning curve/adjustment period for rookies, no matter who you are. Two, they could not have been in a worse situation.
A lack of push and run support from the defensive line meant more on the rookie duo's shoulders. Now, with a line that has been completely overhauled both on the edge and interior, Knight and Carter will have more leeway and more of a chance to improve. While their rookie seasons were largely subpar at best, they both did flash throughout the year, especially Demetrius down the stretch.
Now, obviously, that doesn't mean it's a guarantee they will take the needed step to be the linebacker duo of the future for Cincinnati, but it does give them a fighting chance at least. We'll have to see in their first test with this new-look defense how much they have and can improve.
Even with all this uncertainty, football is back, and you should be excited for what's to come. Who Dey!
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