The final score of the Cincinnati Bengals’ preseason opener won’t matter, but every snap will be meaningful to someone on the current roster.
The Bengals open the 2026 preseason Thursday, Aug. 13 at Paycor Stadium against the Detroit Lions. Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor already said fans will see the team’s star players, but there’s plenty more to watch for than just the Ja’Marr Chases and Dexter Lawrences.
The Bengals have position battles galore, plus other players who might not necessarily be jockeying for position on the depth chart but need a good showing to reinforce what the coaching staff and front office planned for 2026.
Here’s an overview of some key players looking to have productive outings against Detroit, plus others fighting for jobs:
LBs Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr.
Ever since the midseason switch to rookie linebackers Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr., the Bengals have been nothing short of bullish on the two players. They struggled at times after being thrown into starting roles in 2025 but developed as the season went on.
For all the free-agent reinforcements Cincinnati signed in the offseason, linebacker was thought to be a position of need − and yet no veterans landed in the Bengals locker room. We will find out if the front office’s confidence in Carter and Knight is well-placed. Cincinnati needs these players to be effective. Otherwise, it could leave a big hole in the revamped defense.
WR Colbie Young
The rookie wide receiver has been solid in training camp when targeted by quarterback Joe Burrow. Young might be in position to climb the depth chart. There’s no better time to do that than in the preseason opener.
We know who the Nos. 1 and 2 receivers are, and there’s no touching them. But could Young work his way into overtaking a player like Andrei Iosivas and become Burrow’s No. 3 receiver option? Either way, both players will benefit from the competition.
Returner Charlie Jones
Charlie Jones needs a solid outing to secure his position as the team’s primary kick returner. His role as a receiver has diminished, and in 2025 Jones returned 55 combined punts and kickoffs, taking one kickoff back for a touchdown.
DT McKinnley Jackson (and rookie Landon Robinson)
Third-year interior defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson finds himself locked in a position battle, and at a position where there’s suddenly far less breathing room than in previous years thanks to an offseason trade for Dexter Lawrence.
Jackson, Kris Jenkins Jr. and Robinson are more than likely in a battle for two backup spots at defensive tackle. Jenkins is also in his third year, but he’s put more play on tape and stats in the box score than Jackson (Jenkins has 4.5 sacks in his first two seasons compared to Jackson’s one, for instance). Robinson, a Navy product, also seems to have momentum in his debut training camp. For Jackson, it’s time to go and make an impression.
Safeties PJ Jules and Daijahn Anthony
This is another position battle for a depth spot. PJ Jules and Daijahn Anthony figure to be battling for the No. 4 safety spot. Both players will have ample snaps and opportunities to make impressions during the Bengals-Lions game.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals players to watch in the team’s preseason opener vs. Detroit
Reporting by Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
