CINCINNATI — Bengals training camp is finally here and the air is again filled with Super Bowl expectations.
The Bengals have a boatload of questions that need answers. That’s what the next six weeks really are all about: Answering those questions to the best of their ability and head into the season with a sense that these Bengals are positioned to knock off the Ravens in the AFC North and the Chiefs in the AFC.
Anything less than that and the season will be considered a failure. Players and coaches don’t think in those terms in July. They think of what they need to accomplish to be ready for the season. With that in mind…
Here are the biggest storylines to watch:
He’s been cleared for contact. That alone is a major development and a big step forward. This likely means that he’ll be ready to fully participate in all activities and if he or the team believes he needs a day or two, he can take them without feeling he’s missing out on meaningful reps. Most importantly, this means – barring setbacks – he’ll be able to take part in the joint practices vs. the Bears and Colts, which likely will offer the greatest simulation for game reps that will prep him for the regular season.
This is an obvious battle to keep a close eye on as the two battle for the spot opposite Cam Taylor-Britt. As we’ve seen, injuries arise and change the dynamic of a secondary but both Hill and Turner want to earn Lou Anarumo’s trust that they can be on the field at anytime on an outside corner spot.
This is a sneaky big battle to keep close tabs on. Battle is in his second year and has won the respect of many in the Bengals locker room and his own safety room. Bell was brought back for stability and leadership and an intimate working knowledge of the communication that Anarumo expects on the backend that was missing in 2023.
This is Trent Brown’s job to start camp. What will be interesting to watch is how Mims grows and how he handles run blocking once contact begins. With Brown out for much of OTAs, Mims got first team shadow reps as there’s no contact in the spring. Mims has the potential to be the most athletic tackle the Bengals have had since Anthony Munoz came out of USC in 1980, also in the first round. Mims was the final draft pick to sign and did so on Monday. All 10 draft picks are under contract.
With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins locked into the top two roles in the wide receiver room, the Bengals have a wealth of options behind them. Tyler Boyd is gone but the Bengals have plenty of options to take those reps.
How will his role evolve? Joe Burrow has always made good use of the tight end when he has one that he trusts to get downfield and open and create mismatches. It’s just that he hasn’t had that chance often in his first four years. With Gesicki, he should have more chances.
Could McNamara, a rookie free agent out of Texas Tech who hit some booming (87-yards) punts in college, push Robbins for the punting gig? Robbins had a very uneven first season with the Bengals. This is a battle worth keeping an eye on in camp. Robbins, a sixth-round pick in 2023, has nothing guaranteed. He needs to earn the spot again.
Will Charlie Jones emerge as a weapon here? Trayveon Williams and Chris Evans have gotten reps in the past. Could an undrafted rookie like Kwamie Lassiter II, Shed Jackson, Kendric Pryor or Cole Burgess emerge? Burrow mentioned Jackson by name in the spring as a player who has worked hard on his route running and flashed in OTAs. How aggressive will special teams coach Darrin Simmons be in making use of the new rules to create field position?
There’s been a lot of buzz around the second-year edge out of Clemson. He’s bigger and stronger. He could be on the verge of earning reps and heavy rotation with Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. Ossai has always had dominant potential but with perennial injury to go with it. For the first time, he’s had a healthy offseason and has impressed coaches with his attendance and performance at all offseason activities.
Jalen Davis is the steady standby here. But keep any eye on how the Bengals deploy rookie Josh Newton, who the Bengals are extremely high on for his athleticism. Rookie Daijahn Anthony gets reps here.
This is extremely intriguing simply because the Bengals will use camp and preseason to see how the two work together in situational football. Moss is a terrific pass protector, one of the best in the NFL. Chase Brown is explosive to the outside as a runner and receiver.
With rookies Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson and free agent Sheldon Rankins in the fold, the Bengals seem to have answered the loss of DJ Reader. How will they be deployed? How many reps will they get in preseason to ready themselves for the season. If all three find roles in training camp, the Bengals will have a good rotation of quality interior defensive linemen, which is really the objective. The Bengals got gashed way too often in ’23 and the number one job of this new-look line is to be more stout in the middle. Rankins brings a pass-rushing element. Devonnsha Maxwell begins the season on the PUP.
