Cincy Jungle
What are the key competitions to watch?
Training camp has begun!
What are the key competitions to look at as the roster and depth chart shake out over the next few weeks?
Here are the position battles to watch for the Cincinnati Bengals.
It’s always something, isn’t it? We can’t just have one year where we feel really good about the entire offensive line?
The Bengal are looking good at tackle with Orlando Brown and Amarius Mims. They are looking good at center with Ted Karras. They are even looking potentially good at left guard with rookie Dylan Fairchild, but right guard is uninspiring to say the least.
Cody Ford got the first team reps to start camp, with Lucas Patrick taking backup center reps in place of the injured Matt Lee. If Patrick was getting a real look, you’d think they would give him some rep there even in an unpadded practice, right? Even if they didn’t have anyone else who could snap, he could run with both groups.
Patrick was their only free agent addition to the position. Although he lacks a stellar resume, he is supposedly a pretty good pass blocker. It seems like something that could work out.
Matt Lee has gained some mass and could afford to show some versatility, but he doesn’t seem to be in the conversation just yet. Cordell Volson is apparently just working left guard behind Fairchild, which seems rather strange. Perhaps once new offensive line coach Scott Peters gets his hands on him, he could work his way into that conversation as well.
I also wouldn’t rule out rookies Jalen Rivers and Seth McLaughlin.
This is a fun one because I actually think all three of these guys are very good.
After being jerked around for his first two years in Cincinnati, Dax Hill seemed to finally find a home at outside cornerback last year, but alas, the injury bug struck and his 2024 was cut short.
Cam Taylor-Britt was a fan favorite, but last year, he seemed to think he had to make a pick on every play. He is reportedly much more comfortable in the (Al) Golden age of the defense.
Then there is DJ Turner, who is the fastest and most technically sound of the bunch. Turner had a good 2024, but like Hill, ended his season prematurely due to injury. Turner shines in man coverage, not unlike Taylor-Britt, making him an excellent fit for Al Golden’s defense.
I see all three playing large roles in 2025, but it will be fun to see how the depth chart falls and what Golden’s plan is for this triumvirate.
The expectation is that rookie Demetrius Knight will start alongside Logan Wilson with fellow rookie Barrett Carter and newcomer Oren Burks likely playing a passing-down role.
So...
