Cincinnati Bengals

Reader's 2023 season ended early due to a quad injury, but he played a key role along the Bengals' defensive line when healthy. He won't provide much in terms of pass rush, but the Lions already boast a strong run defense and Reader would add to that strength.

All recorded four catches for the third consecutive game and played 18 more snaps than Mike Gesicki, suggesting that the rookie's all-around skill set may have already propelled him to the top of Cincinnati's depth chart. If All plays significantly more than Gesicki again in Week 5 against the Ravens, then it would be safe to assume that All has leapfrogged Gesicki for the starting role. All was expected to be brought along slowly, as the 2024 fourth-round draft pick was recovering from an October ACL tear suffered at Iowa, but he has evidently exceeded expectations with his recovery, going from Cincinnati's tight end of the future to the best option in the present.

Chase has been frequently double-teamed through the Bengals' first two games, both losses. Higgins appears set to make his season debut after overcoming a hamstring injury suffered during Week 1 prep, and Chase is hoping his presence will remove some of the defensive attention that's been bestowed upon him in the first pair of contests.

Burrow has struggled at times while operating without Higgins, who's been dealing with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 1 prep. However, the wideout, who's practiced in limited fashion the first two days of Week 3 prep, said after Friday's practice he was at full strength and ready to manage a full workload versus the vulnerable Commanders secondary.

Higgins still has one more practice to get through Saturday, but the veteran wideout already proclaimed himself fully healthy Friday and said he expects to play at full strength. Higgins added he already felt good going through warmups before the Week 2 loss to the Chiefs but wanted to be cautious and wait another week so he could manage a full workload whenever he did make his return.

Gesicki seemed to maintain control of the ball to the ground in what would have been the highlight of his Bengals debut, but he ended up having the touchdown wiped off the board upon review due to the latest of numerous controversial calls that have gone in New England's favor throughout the Robert Kraft era. Fellow Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson fumbled just outside the goal line on the next play, and that sequence ended up being the difference in a game the Bengals lost by six points.

All saw his offensive snap rate jump from 25 to 54 percent from Week 1 to Week 2, already matching Drew Sample for the highest mark at tight end. Unlike Sample, All also has some pass-catching prowess, as he tallied four catches for 32 yards in Week 2. Mike Gesicki is still likely to be Cincinnati's top pass-catching tight end in the short term, but All, a fourth-round rookie, could cut into his role as the season progresses.

It's clear the relationship between player and team has gotten prickly, especially given Chase was potentially considering a holdout Week 1 in protest of the situation before ultimately suiting up. The report details a number of eyebrow-raising statements, including that the star wideout has taken out a $50 million insurance policy to protect against a catastrophic injury scenario, but it doesn't necessarily seem like there's obvious fantasy relevance to the news. At minimum, this feels like negotiations could be very difficult next offseason.

Burrow was spotted holding a water bottle in an unorthodox manner and flexing his wrist during the Week 1 loss to New England, but the talented signal-caller was emphatic that his wrist was not preventing him from throwing downfield. He blamed his Week 1 struggles on not setting his feet in the pocket and being rushed in his reads, and he added that the constant flexing was part of his process for keeping the wrist loose following his ligament surgery.

Gesicki's production in 2023 with the Patriots was his lowest since his rookie year, as he finished last season with 29 catches on 45 targets for 244 yards and two touchdowns. It's a far cry from his 2021 season with the Dolphins, when he registered 73 catches for 780 yards and two touchdowns. However, with Higgins doubtful to play Sunday due to a hamstring injury and Chase potentially holding out while seeking a contract extension, Burrow could look to take advantage of Gesicki's 6-foot-6 frame in the passing game, especially in the red zone.

Chase is listed with an illness while also negotiating a contract extension, while Higgins has been hampered with a hamstring injury he picked up in practice earlier in the week. Andrei Iosivas is listed as the third wide receiver on the Bengals' depth chart, but if Chase and Higgins were unable to play Week 1, Burton would have an opportunity at an increased number of targets from quarterback Joe Burrow. Despite showing plenty of talent in college, Burton fell to the Bengals in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft due to questions around his professionalism and off-field conduct.

Higgins is unlikely to suit up Sunday due to a hamstring injury, while Chase has deployed a "hold-in" strategy while negotiating a contract extension. If both were to not play Week 1, Iosivas would be the top wideout on the depth chart ahead of Trenton Irwin and rookie third-rounder Jermaine Burton. In his rookie season last year, Iosivas caught 15 passes on 25 targets for 116 yards and four touchdowns across 16 regular-season games.

Chase spoke to the media for the first time Friday and said it will be "my decision" on whether he suits up against the Patriots. The star wideout also said he's fully healthy but would want to be limited to "40 or 50 plays" if he takes the field. Despite his Friday deadline for a deal not having been met, he also expressed optimism an agreement was relatively close. At the same time, Chase, who has two years remaining on his current contract, also conceded he'd be willing to play without an extension this season and return to the bargaining table in 2025.

Higgins' condition quickly deteriorated this past week, with the injury apparently occurring at some point in Thursday's practice. With fellow wideout Ja'Marr Chase still embroiled in a contract dispute but having made an appearance in all three practices this week, it's uncertain if either player will be available against New England.

Chase isn't dealing with any injury, though he just resumed practicing this week after staging a hold-in through camp and the preseason while seeking a new contract. With Tee Higgins out for the opener, the Bengals may have to use their star receiver more than initially planned.

Higgins was limited to 12 games in 2023 and set career lows in receptions (42), receiving yards (656) and touchdown catches (five) after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

Chase and Higgins actually walked out to practice together, and the two worked in tandem for part of the session. However, whether Chase will be back on the field Thursday, much less on Sunday, is still in question, considering he also made a cameo appearance at a light practice in late August and then didn't return to the field until Wednesday. Since Chase hasn't put in a full practice since training camp began, it seems likely Higgins will serve as the de facto No. 1 receiver versus New England under any circumstance.

Chase was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, the first official one of Week 1 prep for Cincinnati. However, considering the star wideout also participated in a light practice in late August and then didn't return to the field until Wednesday, his presence doesn't guarantee Week 1 participation by any stretch. If Burrow does have to take the field against New England without Chase, he'll rely on Tee Higgins as his top target.

Chase and fellow wideout Tee Higgins were among the last to walk out to practice Wednesday, the first official Week 1 session for Cincinnati ahead of their season-opening matchup against the Patriots. However, whether his presence means anything with respect to potential participation Sunday remains unclear, as Chase had also been part of a light practice during the break between camp and the official start of the regular season and was then idle until Wednesday. Quarterback Joe Burrow noted Wednesday the team was keeping a "flexible" game plan in place for Sunday's game to account for a potential Chase absence.

Sunday's season opener against the Patriots is approaching fast, and Chase has barely practiced with the Bengals since the start of training camp. The wideout was on the field Monday, but only in street clothes as he observed the proceedings. Cincinnati may not need Chase in the lineup to handle a rebuilding New England club at home, but a Week 2 road clash with the defending Super Bowl champions in Kansas City would be a much more daunting challenge without Joe Burrow's top target. Chase still has two years remaining on his current deal, including the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.

Taylor also said that he views Moss and Brown as "interchangeable," per Goldsmith. However, Moss has more experience than Brown, and the former's prowess in pass protection is a crucial asset for the Bengals, especially when quarterback Joe Burrow is under heavy duress from opposing defenses. As a member of the Colts in 2023, Moss saw a heavy workload early in the season due to Jonathan Taylor recovering from offseason ankle surgery, with the former rushing for 445 yards and three touchdowns on 89 carries while adding eight catches for 72 yards and one touchdown over his first four regular-season outings.

Chase was present for Cincinnati's final practice of the week but only in street clothes and off to the side. Thursday's absence sets up an intriguing lead-up to the team's Week 1 matchup against the Patriots in regard to Chase's availability. Nick Shook of NFL.com reports head coach Zac Taylor said this week the team will continue to take Chase's situation "day to day," but with the star receiver having missed all of training camp and preseason, how effective he would be even if he does ultimately suit up versus New England is firmly in question.

Brooks notes Burton has quickly adapted to the role of big-play specialist, averaging 19.6 yards per reception during the preseason. With Ja'Marr Chase's status for the start of the season up in the air due to his contract impasse -- and the possibility the star receiver is somewhat limited due to his absence from training camp and preseason if and when he reports -- Burton could even hit the ground running in Week 1 with a large role alongside Tee Higgins and with a healthy Joe Burrow as his quarterback.

Chase held out for the entirety of training camp as he sought a contract extension, though he returned to practice earlier this week. He'll ramp up his activity level across the next 12 days but could be on a snap count in Week 1, as the team will likely want to protect its top pass catcher if he's not fully up to game speed.

The total and average annual values of Lamb's new contract come in just under the one Justin Jefferson signed with the Vikings in June, further defining the top of the wide receiver market. That should make both parties in Cincinnati more comfortable in agreeing to a deal in a similar range, which would put Chase somewhere north of $130 million over four years, or $33-34 million per season, on an extension.

There apparently was still a chance Burrow and fellow members of the first-team offense would get some final work in this preseason during Thursday's contest, but head coach Zac Taylor deemed it unnecessary after Tuesday's practice. Both Taylor and wide receiver Kwamie Lassiter gave Burrow rave reviews on Burrow's accuracy, decision-making, velocity and ball placement during the session, with Taylor adding the performance "kind of put the nail on the coffin of training camp."

He's competing with DJ Turner for the second outside corner role after playing safety in 2023. Hill has impressed this offseason and drew strong reviews in OTAs, and that momentum has seemingly continued with pads on. Even so, Hill struggled significantly in coverage last season, allowing a completion rate of 71.1 percent while surrendering an average of 14.3 yards per reception. He'll need to improve in his new role to secure and maintain a heavy workload.

The talented placekicker was entering the final year of his rookie contract, so the extension isn't surprising given McPherson has largely delivered after being selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Although McPherson has struggled at times with accuracy, he hit winning field goals in multiple playoff games as a rookie, and his 21 made field goals of 50 or more yards since he entered the league are tied for most in that span.

After parting ways with Joe Mixon, Cincinnati is poised to use a combination of Brown and Zack Moss at running back. Brown is shiftier and could get more opportunities on outside runs, while Moss is built to run between the tackles. Brown, the Bengals' starting left tackle, is specifically high on Chase Brown among Cincinnati's top two backfield options.

It's not clear when the injury occurred, but Bengals coach Zac Taylor indicated Monday that the offensive tackle, who was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2024 Draft, would be out for several weeks. Mims will miss Cincinnati's final two preseason contests, and at least for now his push to take the starting right tackle job from Trent Brown will be put on hold.

Both of the pressures Mims allowed came on blitzes from the second level, so Mims consistently kept his man away from the quarterback. Drafted 18th overall out of Georgia, the 6-foot-7, 340-pound tackle was viewed by many as a developmental prospect, but he seems to have adjusted to the NFL quite quickly, and quarterback Joe Burrow said Mims has delivered an A-plus performance in camp. Trent Brown was cleared for practice August 4 but has yet to participate in team drills, and it will be worth watching which one of Brown or Mims works with the starters once Brown resumes practicing.

Iosivas appears to have taken a leap heading into his second NFL season, looking effective both outside and in the slot early in camp. If Iosivas emerges as Tyler Boyd's replacement in the slot, Burton will have a hard time carving out meaningful playing time while all three of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Iosivas are available. Burton has the superior draft pedigree as a third-round pick in 2024, while Iosivas was a sixth-round selection in 2023.

Iosivas spent Wednesday's practice in the slot and impressed in those reps, potentially showcasing the role he will fill in Cincinnati's offense when both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are available. With Chase sitting out practices as he waits for an extension, Iosivas moved to the outside Thursday and looked good there, too. Iosivas is heading into his second NFL season and has a leg up on rookie third-round draft pick Jermaine Burton for the third spot on the wide receiver depth chart at this stage.

When asked, Taylor wouldn't offer any insight about when Chase will be available for practice, but he did confirm the No. 1 receiver was fully healthy. Taylor also wouldn't say Chase's absence was a "hold-in" due to his pending contract extension, but it's worth noting Chase has yet to speak to reporters and has not participated in any full-speed on-field work this offseason.

Speaking to the media Monday, team president Mike Brown indicated that talks with the kicker were ongoing. "We've been talking to Evan McPherson, we're hoping we can get there with him," Brown said. The Florida product has had an impressive start to his NFL career, connecting on 83.9 percent of his field-goal attempts and 95.5 percent of his extra-point attempts over three seasons.

Speaking to the media Monday ahead of the start of training camp, Bengals team president Mike Brown didn't shut the door completely on a deal for Chase coming together before Week 1, but he did downplay the idea. "It's not so likely that this is the good time to negotiate," Brown said. "The offseason is a better time for that and we're going to try to keep focused on the football part. I'm not going to rule anything out, but I will tell you that the die has probably been cast." Cincinnati picked up the fifth-year option on Chase's rookie contract in April, ensuring he'll be with the team at least through 2025.

Gesicki took a step back in 2023 with the Patriots, though Denher is bullish on his outlook now that he's paired with Joe Burrow. Denher projects that Gesicki will be used in the slot and will be able to take advantage of smaller corners or slower safeties. Gesicki has topped 700 receiving yards twice in his career, last reaching that mark in 2021 with the Dolphins, and he has never had more than six touchdowns in a campaign.

The news confirms Higgins will play on the franchise tag in 2024 and then head into free agency in 2025. Higgins signed the tag June 17 after previously having requested a trade, and he'll play out what will almost certainly be his final season on a salary of approximately $21.8 million with the team that drafted him in 2020.

Burrow's most recent clash with the injury bug came last season, when he initially dealt with a calf injury and then suffered a wrist injury in November that ended his campaign after 10-plus regular-season games. The 2020 first overall pick is heading into training camp with top two receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins back in the fold, but long-time teammates Tyler Boyd and Joe Mixon are now in Tennessee and Houston, respectively.

Both Chase and teammate Tee Higgins are seeking new contracts, though it is seemingly a formality that Chase will be extended. The timeline for a deal is unclear, however, as Denher notes the team's preference to drag out negotiations. On the other hand, the Bengals may want to avoid having two unhappy star pass catchers in in the lineup in 2024, and waiting another year could only increase the final cost of Chase's extension as the wide receiver market continues to explode.

Hill appears to have a slight lead in their position battle at outside cornerback after minicamp. Turner started 12 games as a rookie last season, but Hill has adapted well to his new position after struggling as a starting safety in 2023. Cam Taylor-Britt appears locked in as a starter on the other side.

Hill struggled as the Bengals' starting free safety in 2023, prompting a position change for the 2022 first-round draft pick. He has enjoyed a resurgence as an outside cornerback and appears to have the early lead over 2023 second-round pick DJ Turner in their competition for a starting spot. Turner has more experience at the position, having started 12 games as a rookie, but Hill could find himself starting at a new position with a strong showing at training camp.

Both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins were away from the team for parts of the spring for contract reasons, which opened up reps for other wideouts. Iosivas, a sixth-round pick in 2023, took arguably the biggest step forward among the group, and the Princeton product appears to be honing the football skills necessary to take advantage of his elite athleticism. With Tyler Boyd now in Tennessee, Cincinnati needs a new No. 3 receiver, and Iosivas could leap frog competition like Trenton Irwin and 2024 third-round pick Jermaine Burton to claim the job with a strong training camp.

The one-year deal on the tag is worth $21.8 million for the coming season, but Higgins is set to become an unrestricted free agent after that without an extension. Given the massive contracts signed by Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown and other wide receivers this year, Higgins could be headed for a very big payday in 2025.

The Bengals let veteran slot receiver Tyler Boyd walk in free agency, and Higgins' reluctance to sign the franchise tag created uncertainty in the team's receiving depth behind top target Ja'Marr Chase. With Higgins back in tow, Burrow will once again have one of the top 1-2 punches in the NFL at his disposal, which is pivotal considering Cincinnati has an underwhelming group of skill-position players after those two receivers. Burrow continues to rehab a wrist injury he suffered in Week 11 of the 2023 season.

Karras was set to enter the final season of a three-year deal before the extension. The 31-year-old lineman has been a valued member of the Bengals since joining the team during the 2022 offseason, earning a team captain designation in each of his first two years and fostering a high degree of chemistry with star quarterback Joe Burrow.

Higgins is indeed entering a "crossroads" type of season, considering he's the only player who received a franchise or transition tag this offseason that remains without a long-term deal. Granted, more than a month remains before the July 15 deadline for such players to ink contract extensions with their clubs; however, Higgins appears willing to bet on himself and treat the 2024 season as a contract year, in the hopes of producing numbers worthy of a long-term lucrative deal in Cincinnati or elsewhere.

There have been some mixed reports about Burrow's status during offseason activities, as he was previously described as not being on a pitch count. However, coach Zac Taylor said the team was defending its star quarterback from himself with the forced absence. It's unclear whether Burrow will have ongoing absences during training camp, but the Bengals have indicated no concern about his availability for the start of the regular season.

Brown had just eight snaps on offense over the first six games of the regular season while operating behind Joe Mixon. Brown's usage went up in the second half of 2023, as he registered double-digit snaps on offense in each of the last six games of the year and accumulated 322 scrimmage yards and one touchdown on 53 touches over that span. Mixon was dealt to Houston in March, and while Zack Moss signed with Cincinnati in free agency, Filice believes that Brown could increase his timeshare in the backfield as the 2024 season progresses.

The Bengals picked up Chase's fifth-year option this offseason, giving him a significant pay raise for the 2025 season. However, he's seeking some longer-term security, an understandable request given the fact that he's topped 1,000 yards in all three of his seasons as a pro while tallying a combined 29 touchdowns. Coach Zac Taylor downplayed the situation, noting that he knew Chase was working hard to stay in shape even while away from the team.

Burrow's 2023 season came to a crashing halt in Week 11 against the Ravens when the franchise quarterback suffered a torn ligament in his right wrist. He started throwing again in April, and while he doesn't have a set number of throws he's limited to during OTAs, Pitcher noted that the young quarterback is staying "within the constraints of where the medical people think he should be." Before his wrist injury last season, Burrow completed 66.8 percent of his passes for 2,309 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions over 10 games.

With Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase not present for OTAs, Burton joined Trenton Irwin, Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones as the top targets for Joe Burrow during drills. Burton noted Monday that he and Burrow have worked closely in OTAs, and the rookie wideout could be heavily relied on by the franchise quarterback should Higgins opt to hold out for a long-term deal or trade. In his final season at Alabama, Burton registered 39 catches for 798 yards and eight touchdowns. He was taken by the Bengals in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 80th overall.

Until the wideout signs the tender or otherwise agrees to a new contract, Higgins will be ineligible to participate in OTAs. The 25-year-old requested a trade when Cincinnati first put the tag on him this offseason, but a Bengals team with Super Bowl aspirations wants him in the fold for 2024. The two sides have until July 15 to work out a new contract.

Shook has only Patrick Mahomes ahead of Burrow, noting that Burrow will have the chance to make a strong early impression, as the Bengals face the Chiefs in Week 2 and Ravens in Week 5. Burrow finished fourth in MVP voting in 2022 before having his 2023 campaign cut short by a Week 11 wrist injury, from which the 27-year-old quarterback is still recovering.

In projecting starters for each AFC North team, Rosenthal gives Moss the edge over Brown to start the campaign despite the latter's incumbent status. Brown showed some explosiveness as a rookie, but he ultimately has just 58 touches' worth of NFL experience, which pales in comparison to Moss' 559 across his five seasons. However, Rosenthal points out the fact both players are capable receivers in the screen game should lead to a fairly equitable division of labor.

Brown showed flashes last season as a rookie, but he ultimately garnered a scant 58 touches across 12 games. Mixon continued to play a large role, playing in all 17 games and drawing 309 total touches in what would turn out to be the last of his seven Bengals seasons. Moss should naturally see his fair share of work in 2024, but Rosenthal sees the two players having much less of a gap in workload than the Mixon-Brown tandem did.

Rosenthal acknowledges there's been plenty of talk about the Bengals' addition of Gesicki, who does arrive with 260 receptions and 20 touchdowns over 98 career games. However, in Rosenthal's view, the combination of Gesicki's struggles to earn playing time with the Patriots in 2023 and Sample's vast experience edge within head coach Zac Taylor's offense will conspire to keep Gesicki in a reserve role to open the 2024 campaign.

In projecting the starters for each AFC North team, Rosenthal notes Sample, who's been with the Bengals since the team invested a 2019 second-round pick in him, naturally has the experience edge over Gesicki in head coach Zac Taylor's offense. Consequently, he sees Sample getting the nod on the first unit, adding that Gesicki struggled to earn meaningful snaps with the Patriots in 2023.

Hendrickson requested a trade earlier in the offseason, but the Bengals are not interested in honoring that request or signing him to a long-term extension. That leaves Hendrickson's future in limbo, though he nevertheless told reporters that he loves the team. His comments seem to suggest he won't hold out in an effort to get an extension.

The edge rusher is coming off a 2023 season in which he recorded a career-high 17.5 sacks, but he's set to earn just $31 million over the final two seasons of his current contract, which is well below market value for an elite pass rusher. Hendrickson's presence at workouts is a good sign that the two sides could be close to a new deal that would keep him in Cincinnati, but a holdout still remains a possibility if he isn't either dealt or extended as training camp draws closer.

The Bengals wideout became the last man standing in that particular group Monday when Antoine Winfield signed a record-breaking four-year deal with the Buccaneers. Higgins put in a trade request in March after getting tagged, but all signs currently point to him spending the 2024 season in Cincinnati before hitting the open market next offseason.

Quarterbacks coach Brad Kragthorpe said the Cincinnati star appeared to be his usual self. "He looked like the Joe Burrow we're used to seeing," Kragthorpe said. "I didn't see any difference. I thought the ball came out of his hand well. Confidently. I'm happy where he's at." Burrow has previously indicated he doesn't typically begin throwing until OTAs later in the spring, so the fact that he was participating in voluntary workouts is a strong sign that he will be fully healthy by training camp, if not sooner. Burrow's 2023 season ended in Week 11 due to a torn ligament in his right wrist, and he underwent surgery in late November to correct the issue.

Hill operated as a starting safety for the Bengals in 2024 but struggled mightily in coverage. With Cincinnati having signed Geno Stone, Hill will transition to corner and is likely to play inside as he did in college at Michigan. Hilton is the incumbent at slot corner, which could mean Hill finds himself without a starting role to begin 2024.

Burton was seen on video striking a female fan in 2022 when fans stormed the field following the Crimson Tide's loss to Tennessee that season. Although he was never officially reprimanded, the incident was naturally a concern for some teams, but Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said the team felt "really good about the pick" and added that Cincinnati had done thorough due diligence on all its picks thus far.

Hendrickson's request comes just one day before the 2024 NFL Draft, so Cincinnati could get some picks in exchange for the three-time Pro Bowl defensive end if the Bengals acquiesce to his request and a deal comes together quickly. Coming off a 17.5-sack season, the 29-year-old Hendrickson is hoping to land a long-term contract, while Cincinnati hasn't offered him an extension.

"I do anticipate it," the wideout said while attending a youth football camp. "I've grown a love for Cincy that I didn't think I would, but, you know, man, looking forward to it." Higgins put in his trade request after the Bengals placed the franchise tag on him in February, but as yet the team has shown little interest in moving him.

Reader's 2023 season ended early due to a quad injury, but he played a key role along the Bengals' defensive line when healthy. He won't provide much in terms of pass rush, but the Lions already boast a strong run defense and Reader would add to that strength.