Bengals News (6/20): Andrei Iosivas bulking up

Andrei Iosivas made some big changes that could pay dividends.

Bengals WR Andrei Iosivas explains the practicality behind his offseason change and the results he’s already seeing
Iosivas emerged as WR3 last year in just his second season in the NFL. The 206th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft ran with the opportunity to start alongside Chase and Higgins and effectively share the slot with Chase and tight end Mike Gesicki.

Bengals Season In Review: 1968
The Bengals became the 10th team in the American Football League in 1968. The planning for the franchise actually began three years earlier, when Paul Brown met with Ohio governor Jim Rhodes. A year later, Cincinnati city council approved the construction of Riverfront Stadium, set to be complete in 1970.

Cincinnati Bengals and Trey Hendrickson Contract Stalemate Revealed
The Cincinnati Bengals and defensive end Trey Hendrickson are experiencing a contract standoff, with significant differences in their valuation of his worth. Hendrickson aims for a deal reflective of his performance, having achieved back-to-back seasons with 17.5 sacks, whereas the Bengals appear to be offering a lower figure and seeking a shorter contract.

Bengals targeted as fit for notable free agent before training camp
“Perhaps Fairchild will prove us wrong and be ready sooner than expected, but either way, acquiring more bodies at guard would be wise for the Bengals. The gap between Patrick and Mason might be insignificant, but Mason would definitely be an upgrade over Volson or Ford. Signing him would take pressure off Fairchild to play as a rookie and would both add depth and improve the starting five on Cincy’s offensive line.”

How did Bengals react to Shemar Stewart’s public bashing?
“There’s no direct blame on Stewart, a 21-year-old, for fully understanding the issues that have transpired on the business side, but the handling of the situation on the whole left an impression. His verbal bombardment of team brass before even taking a snap left a relevant question about who the Bengals acquired with this pick and how much maturing is necessary to reach his potential.”

ESPN Analyst Bill Barnwell Names Bengals Defender TJ Slaton One of NFL’s Top Luxuries
“In 2024, Slaton’s 45.5% run stop win rate on the interior led all defenders, just ahead of highly compensated tackles D.J. Jones, Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner. The highlight of his season might have been a fourth-and-goal snap in the fourth quarter against the Dolphins, where Slaton drove the guard backward, drew a holding penalty and pressured Tua Tagovailoa into the arms of Quay Walker for a drive-ending sack.

See the Bengals and Hamilton County lease offers side by side
Hamilton County Administrator Jeff Aluotto has said the April offers from each party are a “snapshot in time” and that they do not necessarily represent the current status of negotiations. Hamilton County Commission President Denise Driehaus declined to comment on how terms have changed since these offers were made.

Trey Hendrickson, Bengals Reportedly ‘Not Any Closer’ in Contract Talks
“The Bengals would like a shorter deal. Hendrickson would like a longer deal. And they can’t even find common ground on the length of the deal right now,” Schefter said.

Pro Football Network Ranks Cincinnati Bengals Offense Outside NFL’s Top Five
“Much like the Cardinals, the Cincinnati Bengals deserved much more in the way of results last season if you only look at how their offense graded out,” the article stated. “Joe Burrow has his top two receivers back in the mix, a route-running tight end, and a running back whose best days are ahead of him.

Bengals, Justin Simmons suggested as a free-agent fit again
“The Bengals should also look to add more pieces to their defense, specifically in the back seven. Cincinnati did nothing to improve its cornerback room, could use safety depth after parting with Vonn Bell and recently released defensive captain Germaine Pratt.”

Pro Football Focus Ranks Bengals Running Back Room Among NFL’s Worst
“The Bengals are known as a pass-heavy team, but they could still use some offensive balance,” Wasserman wrote. “Their top rushing option is Chase Brown, who recorded just less than 1,000 yards and a 73.7 PFF rushing grade last season.”

Bengals flail in the cellar of defensive projections…for now
“Remember in 2022 when this looked like a franchise with balance and staying power? They were our 11th-best defense that season and trending toward the elite tier of the conference, but with 27th and 28th Defense+ finishes since, Cincinnati has looked more like a one-trick pony over the past two years than a legitimate threat to the top tier of the AFC.”

NFL Insider Albert Breer Optimistic About Joe Burrow’s MVP Chances, Bengals Ahead of
“The wild thing is that he could have won it last year, in a season when the Bengals didn’t even make the playoffs,” Breer wrote. “He threw more yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43) than anyone else, and had the most throws (652) and completions (460), too, while maintaining the fourth-highest completion percentage (70.6%) in all of football.”