I had a whole Tuesday Trenches ready to go Sunday night. It wasn’t a cheerful one. The Bengals had gone bargain-bin shopping at guard, settling on Lucas Patrick, and it felt like the same old story: a glaring weakness at guard and a front office unwilling to spend what it takes to fix it.
That’s still a problem. As it stands, the Bengals may have to overpay Dalton Risner, who has set himself up for a bidding war, just to get a credible answer at the position. Otherwise, it’s Patrick, Cody Ford, or rookie Jalen Rivers. None of those options should leave Joe Burrow—or anyone else—sleeping soundly.
And then there was the defense. I had plenty written about Trey Hendrickson, and how the Bengals were on track to make 2025 a repeat of 2024 by letting their best defensive player twist in the wind.
Then Monday happened. The Bengals reached an agreement with Hendrickson, keeping him in Cincinnati for 2025 and giving themselves a chance to chase a Lombardi together—one last time.
Does that fix everything? No. But it changes the outlook.
Hendrickson doesn’t suddenly make the Bengals the Super Bowl favorite, but his presence keeps the defense from being a disaster. At worst, they’re mediocre with him—mediocre might be enough when paired with an offense that looks ready to score on every drive. If Burrow and the first-team offense look as sharp in September as they did in August, a playoff run is on the table.
I’m still not sold on the secondary. I don’t like the linebacker spot next to Logan Wilson. But with Hendrickson, there’s at least potential for the defensive front to elevate the whole unit.
The offense? They look ready. If Cincinnati can get out of September at .500 or better, they’ll avoid the hole that’s buried them in recent years. They promised to keep Chase, Higgins, and Hendrickson. And they did.
Are they a better team today than they were at the end of last year? Yes. Did they do enough to ensure a playoff berth or a deeper Super Bowl run? That’s the question still hanging over this roster.
We know this much: no one wanted to see the Bengals sneaking into the playoffs last year as the No. 7 seed, riding a five-game win streak, with Burrow and the offense rolling. That version of the Bengals scared people.
Now, Hendrickson’s back. The next time we see them in uniform, it’ll be in Cleveland, with a chance to start 2025 off the right way.
Finally, cuts are coming today. I’m expecting Mitchell Tinsley to make the final 53, It will be interesting to see how many running backs they keep as well as how many linebackers and defensive backs. Don’t be surprised if the Bengals take a look at some of the players cut around the league. That’s their style, another team’s trash, and all that.
Can you feel that? That was a weight lifted. It feels nice, doesn’t it?
It’s a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It’s a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
4 CommentsSee More:
