CINCINNATI — Zac Taylor is hoping early to rise, early to shine is the way to kickstart the Bengals on their way to a faster start and a better chance of an AFC North title and maybe even home field advantage in the AFC playoffs.
Of course, the Bengals have to get to the playoffs first.
The Bengals are changing their training camp practice from afternoons to mornings. The idea? To maximize their energy levels in the morning when people are typically more alert and their ability to learn and retain the information is higher. Taylor has all but acknowledged that starters will play in the preseason, especially with no joint practices taking place this summer. In years past, the Bengals have practiced against the likes of the Rams, Packers, Bears and Colts.
“Every season has been different,” Taylor said. “Recently our 0-2 starts have been different. It’s something we certainly talk about and training camp will feel a little bit different in some ways. We are only going to practice with ourselves in the offseason, this preseason. We are going to let our starters play a little bit more, hopefully in the games. Hopefully it plays out that way. I do think practicing in the mornings will be good from a players standpoint. Takes temperature off of them to get really quality reps.”
“I like it, to be honest. I mean, early in the morning, you still feel refreshed, still waking up, but I like it,” Dax Hill said. “It’s better than the heat of the day, for sure. So I definitely like the change, and hopefully it’s good for us.”
The coaching staff will have to modify their installation procedures but the mornings should mean more alert, energetic players on the field. Will it mean anything more than that? Who knows. But certainly, to Zac Taylor, it’s worth a try.
(See details on Camp schedule below)
“There will be opportunities later in camp to fight through the heat as we get ready for some one o’clock games,” Taylor added. “The only real difference is for the coaches the install progression is a little bit different when you practice in the morning but we embrace that. It will be good to change it up for us. Some of us have been here for a long time, it will be good to change it up and have to adapt like we ask our players to adapt. So I am really excited for training camp to get here so we can start to put in the work. We have talked in depth about it as a coaching staff so I think we are really ready to go. But we’ll take these five weeks and fine tune everything and be ready to go.
“We want to think about ‘what’s the best thing for this team, the 2025 team.’ I’ve kind of said this forever: Just because it’s been done a certain way forever doesn’t mean that’s how we have to do it. The offensive staff, a lot of us have been here for seven years. It’s just good to have to adapt and adjust. It keeps you on your toes a little bit and adjust to a different schedule. I’m excited about it. I think it will pay dividends for our players.”
Dax Hill is excited about the progress he’s making towards winning his outside corner spot back this summer in training camp, eight months after tearing his right ACL against Baltimore last October at Paycor. He said Thursday before breaking minicamp that his hope is to be cleared before camp begins on July 23.
“Yeah, I’m hopeful in the next couple of weeks,” Hill said. “This break is five weeks, so probably right before hopefully. Mostly with what I’ve been doing last couple months, but just a little nuance in terms of actually preparing myself to be clear, and I feel like I have been doing, DB drills, and doing whatever I need to do to get cleared, Showing them that I can actually be cleared.
“It’s not just one thing, I feel like it’s kind of just a hodgepodge of everything, like I’m doing so much right now. I’m doing workouts on the side. I’m doing my treatment, (studying) film. I felt like just a mixture of all that, but definitely a telltale sign that I’m ready to go. I know it’s going to be a gradual ramp up, too, so I’m not going to be expecting a whole lot. But I just want to be out there for day one.”
There are those inside the building who look at Hill and see a potential captain in the making if he’s willing to step forward and accept that responsibility with the likes of Sam Hubbard and Germaine Pratt no longer with the team.
“Yeah, for sure. I definitely want to step into that role and lead guys and then on opposite end of that, guys see that I can step into that role,” Hill said. “So, it’s a role I’m willing to take on, for sure. Prove yourself and if people see that in the locker room, (I’ll) definitely get voted for it.”
Bengals Training Camp presented by Kettering Health will kick off on Wednesday, July 23 with the first of eight practices open to the public, including a special Saturday night practice in Paycor Stadium on Aug. 2. Three additional practices will be open exclusively to Season Ticket Members and Waitlist Members.
The Bengals will hold a special Saturday Night Stadium Practice in Paycor Stadium on Aug. 2 at 6 p.m. that is free and open to the public. Gates will open at 5 p.m. for fans to enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities and photo opportunities throughout the stadium. Dan Hoard and Dave Lapham will provide live commentary during practice.
Tickets are required and will be made available at no cost on the week of July 21 in the Bengals app. Season Ticket Members and Waitlist Members will be able to claim free tickets to the Saturday Night Stadium Practice on Tuesday, July 22. Tickets will be made available to the public on Wednesday, July 23.
The NFL Clear Bag Policy will be in effect for the Saturday Night Stadium Practice. Parking is available in adjacent lots at established prices.
New this year, the Bengals will practice at 10 a.m. for open training camp practices at the Kettering Health Practice Fields located just west of Paycor Stadium. The entrance is located on the corner of Central Avenue and West Pete Rose Way. Fans are encouraged to park in Lot 1, Lot A or Lot B for practices at established prices.
The Kettering Health Practice Fields have bleacher seating for 1,100 fans next to the fields, plus additional standing room along the sidelines. Admission is free and no ticket is required. Fans are encouraged to arrive early since capacity is limited and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Concessions and Bengals merchandise will be available to purchase using credit cards and debit cards.
Bengals players will sign autographs for fans along the sidelines following practices at the Kettering Health Practice Fields. Different position groups will be available each day after practice.
Season Ticket Members and Waitlist Members will have access to three exclusive practices. Members will be able to select an exclusive practice and claim free tickets in the Bengals app on Monday, July 21. Fans can visit bengals.com/tickets to learn more about the Season Ticket Member Waitlist.
Times are subject to change, so fans are advised to check bengals.com/camp on the days of practices for the latest times and for other important information.
NOTE: On dates not included below, there is no public access.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23
–Gates open at 9:30 a.m.
–Practice from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
THURSDAY, JULY 24
–Gates open at 9:30 a.m.
–Practice from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
FRIDAY, JULY 25
–Gates open at 9:30 a.m.
–Practice from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
SUNDAY, JULY 27 (Season Ticket & Waitlist Members Only; Ticket Required)
–Gates open at 9 a.m.
–Practice from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
MONDAY, JULY 28
–Gates open at 9:30 a.m.
–Practice from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
–Gates open at 9:30 a.m.
–Practice from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
THURSDAY, JULY 31
–Gates open at 9:30 a.m.
–Practice from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
SATURDAY, AUG. 2 (Saturday Night Stadium Practice; Ticket Required)
–Gates open at 5 p.m.
–Practice from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, AUG. 3
–Gates open at 9:30 a.m.
–Practice from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
SATURDAY, AUG. 9 (Season Ticket & Waitlist Members Only; Ticket Required)
–Gates open at 1:15 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, AUG. 10 (Club Members Only; Ticket Required)
–Gates open at 9 a.m.
–Practice from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
