4 Biggest Storylines to Watch at Bengals Training Camp in 2026
· Yahoo Sports
The Cincinnati Bengals begin training camp this upcoming Monday, and after a minicamp that has fans and players in high spirits, this could be one of the biggest training camps in recent memory.
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Below are some of the biggest storylines I'll be following as the Bengals make their way through training camp.
Is load management the new way?
You saw the Rams do it with Matthew Stafford during training camp last year, holding him out for the overwhelming majority of practice snaps. Burrow is healthy after dealing with turf toe last season. Zac Taylor also cut mini camp short by multiple days this year. With an offense that is running it back with basically the exact same unit, there isn't much need to have all of their cornerstone players on the field day after day if the goal is to keep them fresh. Maybe we see Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins take it easy through July and August.
Alas, there is likely an emphasis on starting fast, as Cincinnati has struggled in the first four games of the season over the past few years. Being as ready as possible could be a priority.
Progression in tackling?
The biggest question marks will be Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. at linebacker. The front office and coaching staff have been very vocal about their support for Carter and Knight, who are expected to take a huge jump in their second year in the NFL. Still, many fans want the Bengals to pursue more experienced veteran linebackers such as Bobby Wagner and Bobby Okereke, who are currently free agents.
Another big name to monitor in terms of tackling will be Bryan Cook. Taking over at safety for the much-maligned Geno Stone has many fans excited, but can Cook live up to the expectations? Also worth watching are the explosive plays the offense can put together as a test for the back end of the defense.
Amarius Mims and Dylan Fairchild
Mims and Fairchild were the two most-discussed offensive linemen during minicamp, as the young players have gained valuable experience in their first few years in the NFL. Mims debuted in 2024, while Fairchild was thrown to the wolves as a starting guard during his rookie season.
The Bengals' offensive line is returning the same unit for the second consecutive season for the first time since drafting Joe Burrow. After taking a big step forward in 2025, expectations are high in 2026. If both Mims and Fairchild take another step forward, it won't just bode well for this season but also for the long-term outlook of the front five.
More snaps under center?
It's been a discussion for a long time, but this offseason the heat has been on Zac Taylor to get Joe Burrow under center more often. Many believe the Bengals' offense could produce more explosive plays if it lined up under center more frequently, as Cincinnati's explosive-play rate is relatively low for how talented and productive the offense has been.