W2L4: Joe Burrow Ready To Roll, Rookies Set To Debut vs. Defending Super Bowl Champion Eagles in 2025 Preseason Opener

Bengals (9-8, 4th AFC North in 2024) at Eagles (14-3, 1st NFC East in 2024, Super Bowl LIX Champions), Thurs., Aug. 7 at Lincoln Financial Field (grass), 7:30 p.m. ET, TV: Bengals Preseason Network FOX 19, WXIX-TV (Cincinnati) Mike Watts, Anthony Munoz, Marisa Contipelli. Radio: Dan Hoard, Dave Lapham. WEBN-FM (102.7 FM), ESPN1530

CINCINNATI – Time for the games to begin.

There’s plenty to watch for in the 2025 preseason debut that just so happens to come on the road against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

How does the revamped defense under new defensive coordinator Al Golden look? How smooth will the communication be between players on the field and between Golden the signal caller and his players? What does the right and left guard positions look like in front of Joe Burrow? What does Burrow himself look like in his first preseason action since 2021?

How about the rookies, including Shemar Stewart?

Cincinnati’s efforts to build a contending roster during the offseason were highlighted by several noteworthy moves, which included the retaining of key players, the addition of prominent free agents and the hiring of six new assistant coaches. After posting a 9-8 record and finishing on the outside of the AFC playoffs for a second straight season in 2024, each decision the team made since January has been with the stated goal of returning to the upper echelon of the NFL.

The hallmark of the Bengals entering 2025 remains an explosive offense led by Burrow. But the key this preseason is getting everyone off to a fast start in preseason, with the thinking that will carry into the regular season. There is an urgency from Burrow on down that this team cannot afford another brutal start out of the gate.

Of course, preseason games don’t count. No one is saying any starters should be needlessly put in harm’s way to win a game that doesn’t matter. But these games can expose depth issues, as has been the case the last four years. In the last four preseasons, the Bengals have won just two of 12 games, going a miserable 2-9-1 in those contests. Winning is a habit and it’s habit-forming To a perennial Super Bowl contender or playoff team, those records mean nothing.

To a team that has missed the postseason the last two years and has posted a 1-11 mark in the first two regular season games under Zac Taylor, that narrative changes, at least somewhat. The team knows what it has on offense and could be even better this year with the additions of rookie running back Tahj Brooks and tight Noah Fant. The question is left guard with rookie Dylan Fairchild and the right guard spot with Lucas Patrick and Cody Ford.

“The common goal of our unit is to win a championship,” said head coach Zac Taylor. “Any way that we can score more points, our players are always going to put their hand up and say, ‘Let’s do that.’ When you do get an opportunity, because there are great weapons on the field, you get an opportunity to maximize that rep. I’m really excited about the direction of the talent level over there.”

Defensively, Al Golden returns to Cincinnati after three seasons as defensive coordinator at the University of Notre Dame. His Fighting Irish defense ranked second nationally both in points allowed (14.3 per game) and yards allowed (298.3) last season, spearheading the team’s run to the College Football Playoff National Championship game.

Golden took a young secondary and empowered them to make plays and take accountability. Now, he looks to carry over that success to the NFL
level, and he already has noted the focus and intensity shown by this Cincinnati defense through the offseason program and early weeks of training camp.

“They really are buying into being brilliant in the basics,” said Golden. “(Coaches) can call a million different things, and a lot of the times the players make you right. But there is no substitute for the tackling, the ball disruption and being great in situations. All of those things are important to us.”

The Bengals then drafted edge Shemar Stewart, linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter in April, and all three will find
opportunities to make an impact in the preseason. In the secondary, a young corps looks to marry its talent with productivity, as CBs Cam Taylor-Britt,

After facing the Eagles, Cincinnati will travel to Washington to take on the Commanders on Monday, Aug. 18, before closing out the preseason at home against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, Aug. 23. The Bengals open the regular season at Cleveland on Sunday, Sept. 7 — exactly one month from Thursday night’s contest in Philadelphia.

Without further ado, for the first time in 2025:

Here’s what to look for:

When the Bengals have the ball:

Joe Burrow:
Joe Burrow has looked very good so far in camp, throwing more aggressively into tight windows, in both 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills. Burrow might decide to use that aggressiveness in this preseason opener to test his timing with receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas. Burrow started the 2024 preseason opener against Tampa Bay at Paycor and went 5-for-7 for 51 yards and a touchdown to Tee Higgins. “We don’t have this targeted as the biggest play time for our guys,” Taylor said of Burrow’s play time with the first-team offense. “We really picked Washington to be more of that. Another thing I hate to put in a stone – a couple of series, several series is what we’ll give those starters.”

Receiving corps:
The deepest part of the roster features Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and now, established third receiver Andrei Iosivas, who has had a terrific camp. The interesting part of this preseason will be watching Jermaine Burton, Charlie Jones, Isaiah Williams, Mitchell Tinsley and Kendric Pryor battle for playing time. Whoever makes the cut will likely need to impress as both a receiver and returner or special teams impact player.

Interior offensive line:
The biggest battle is at right guard where Lucas Patrick has returned from an early camp injury and is ready to start Thursday. He is competing against veteran Cody Ford. Rookie Dylan Fairchild gets his first live reps in a game after being ordained as the left guard in waiting after Cordell Volson lost his job at the end of last season and took a pay cut in the offseason to remain on the Bengals roster. Could rookie Jalen Rivers get a run at guard in preseason?

Running backs/Tight ends: These two positions are intriguing because Chase Brown figures to be Cincinnati’s breakout weapon this season. He has shown explosiveness in camp and should be ready for a big season. Tahj Brooks is also fascinating because he comes from an “Air Raid” offense in Texas Tech and already feels comfortable with pass protection responsibilities. Samaje Perine is a veteran ready to pick up where he left off in 2022 when he left for a new opportunity in Denver. Mike Gesicki will sit this one out with his lower body issue from last weekend. Noah Fant is still picking up the playbook. So that leaves Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson, Tanner McLachlan and Cam Grandy.

When the Eagles have the ball:

Defensive line: It’s early, but the growth in this group has been eye-popping early in camp. T.J. Slaton has been added to a group that includes McKinnley Jackson, Kris Jenkins Jr. and BJ Hill. Rookie Shemar Stewart has looked like the first-round stud the Bengals drafted out of Texas A&M, playing three positions on the line and looking athletic and strong. Now the Bengals get to see what he looks like in a game. Keep a close eye on Joseph Ossai, Myles Murphy and Cam Sample in the preseason. All three have plenty to prove for various reasons. Murphy needs to show he can make one move and not get bogged down by big offensive tackles. Cedric Johnson and of course, Trey Hendrickson will not play in this game.

Linebackers: In Demetrius Knight Jr., Barrett Carter and Oren Burks, the Bengals have revamped their linebacker room with Logan Wilson returning. The preseason will be an important time for Carter to get familiar with the green dot and signal calls when Wilson is not in there. This group has been flying around in camp. How do they look in a game?

Defensive backs: Time for the likes of outside DJ Turner and slot Josh “Fig” Newton to rise to the occasion and show they’re ready for the big stage. Cam Taylor-Britt, Dax Hill and Marco Wilson will not play in this game. DJ Ivey has impressed in his first-team reps, staying with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Ivey will get plenty of run. Jordan Battle looks much trimmer and faster this camp and ready to go at safety. He needs to show it in preseason. Geno Stone is locked in at free safety. Daijahn Anthony is another with lots to prove this preseason, looking to prove he’s a worthy backup if called upon. Keep close eyes on corner Bralyn Lux and UDFA’s PJ Jules and Shaquan Loyal at safety. Golden plans to move DBs all over this season. Will he use the preseason to work with that or keep that under wraps until the season?

Evan McPherson The Bengals fifth-year kicker has looked sharp in camp, with a focus on kicking “straighter” and not kicking with draws after an uneven season last year. He’s also worked on flexibility and agility and stretching before practice and games. Preseason is a good time to see if the changes will pay dividends in the kicking game. Also, keep a close eye on the long snapper competition. Undrafted free agent William Wagner was brought in to challenge Cal Adomitis. Ryan Rehkow has shown a booming leg in practice but he’s also had a few off the side of his foot that raised some eyebrows. Still, no competition in camp so the Bengals are presumably happy with his overall performance.

Bottom Line:

This is a rematch of last October’s contest at Paycor Stadium, won by the Eagles, 37-17. Philadelphia scored the final 20 points to break a 17-17 tie. The Eagles used that game as a launching pad for a run to their second Super Bowl title in eight seasons. There are more storylines around the Bengals, as they are trying to re-establish themselves as a premier team in the AFC while the Eagles are firmly entrenched atop the NFC East. As was the case in 2021, when the Bengals opened the preseason against Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Bengals would like to prove to themselves worthy right out of the chute, if only to create a positive vibe that matches the “energy” we’ve heard so much about from the defense early in camp. The Bengals won that game against Tampa Bay, 19-14. So why not a repeat?

Bengals 19, Eagles 14