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.
Right Guard – Lucas Patrick vs. Cody Ford
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.
Starting Cornerbacks – Dax Hill vs. Cam Taylor-Britt vs. DJ Turner
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.
5th LB – Maema Njongmeta vs. Shaka Hayward vs. Joe Giles-Harris
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 what does that mean for Shaka Hayward and newcomer Joe Giles-Harris? What does that mean for last year’s top UDFA and fan favorite Maema Njongmeta?
Njongmeta showed a lot of promise in his first season and played a large role on special teams. With the Bengals acquiring four new linebackers, three of whom are shoe-ins to make the team, Njongmeta will have to keep proving himself worthy every single day.
RB2 – Samaje Perine vs. Tahj Brooks
With Zack Moss’ injury a year ago, Chase Brown was forced to carry the load. Brown did a fantastic job, but he did get injured late in the season. Even if he doesn’t get hurt, they need someone else to take some of the burden off of him, and they attacked this problem in a very intelligent way.
First, they brought back the ever-dependable Samaje Perine. Then they drafted versatile Tahj Brooks.
They have raved about what Brooks can do, but they may lean on Perine until they trust Brooks. Brooks will have to prove himself in order to take Perine’s spot.
Jermaine Burton vs. Jermaine Burton
I don’t think much explanation is needed here.
Burton is a stud on the field, but he needs to get out of his own way. He needs to be a professional and keep himself out of the headlines outside of the field.
Do this, and he could be a big factor in the Bengals offense, even with all of their other weapons.
Long Snapper – Cal Adomitis vs. William Wagner
There was much debate last year about why kicker Evan McPherson had such a poor season.
One of the explanations suggested was that the process between snapper, holder, and kicker was off.
It is pretty telling that McPherson is the only kicker in camp while they brought in William Wagner to compete with Cal Adomitis for the long snapper spot.
I hope you have all come to appreciate how good we had it for 14 seasons with Clark Harris.
Tight End 3 and 4 – Cam Grandy vs. Tanner McLachlin vs. Tanner Hudson vs. Noah Fant(?)
Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample will be this team’s primary tight ends this season, but the pair has completely different skill sets.
With the roster as it is, you feel like you have to keep Tanner Hudson to be Gesicki’s backup, but neither is much of a blocker.
So if you keep Hudson, you really need to keep four tight ends (at least).
Last season, Cam Grandy stepped up and was a pretty good blocker. Tanner McLachlin seems to have the potential to be an inline tight end who can block and catch, but he couldn’t even sniff the active list, much less the field last season. Unless he has a major breakthrough, he could be out of a job.
Noah Fant may have left Cincinnati without an offer, but he would make sense. He isn’t a great blocker, but he does have more experience as an inline tight end than Hudson and Gesicki. He can also rack up yards after the catch like nobody’s business.
Cedric Johnson vs Hold Outs
Shemar Stewart has finally signed, but Trey Hendrickson has yet to report.
Johnson is one person who benefits from every rep Stewart and Hendrickson miss.
With Myles Murphy, Joseph Ossai, Cam Sample, as well as Stewart and Hendrickson being sure things to make the final cut, Johnson could be the odd man out.
However, if Stewart and/or Hendrickson aren’t ready to contribute by Week 1, they may need to keep Johnson around. He could even get some serious playing time.
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