The first reminder that Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. weren’t always teammates came shortly after Day 3 of training camp wrapped up on Friday, July 31.
As Carter took questions from media, Knight yelled a playful jab at Carter, the former Clemson standout.
“Go Gamecocks!” Knight declared with a smile.
Without missing a beat, Carter had a rebuttal.
“This guy here,” he smiled. “Go Tigers.”
The exchange lasted only a few seconds, but it summed up one of the Bengals’ closest young duos. Less than two years ago, on Nov. 30, 2024, it was Knight diving to make a game-sealing interception to seal a 17-14 victory for No. 15 South Carolina over Carter’s Tigers at Memorial Stadium. Carter had seven tackles and recovered a fumble, but Knight’s squad got a road rivalry win in a battle of top 20 teams.
The former rivals have quickly become inseparable as second-year linebackers trying to help reshape Cincinnati’s defense.
“That’s my brother for life,” Carter said. “I’ve said this so many times. I went to South Carolina. He went to Clemson. One of the biggest rivalries in college football. I was skeptical when I found out I was coming here, but quickly he became my brother.”
The bond has grown alongside their responsibilities, and struggles, in Al Golden’s defense. Last year, the two rookies were thrown into the fire early as starting NFL linebackers. To say there were growing pains would be an understatement as both were top 10 in the league in missed tackles on a Bengals defense that was 31st overall and dead last against the run.
Despite the struggles, the Bengals front office doubled down on the duo this offseason. While the Bengals invested heavily elsewhere on defense with guys like Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe and Bryan Cook, they didn’t add to the linebacker room through the draft or free agency.
They entrusted Carter and Knight to grow heading into Year 2, and that confidence has shown itself early in training camp and throughout the summer. Last year has been put in the rearview mirror, but the lessons learned from those struggles may have laid the foundation for what’s ahead.
“You can say what you want about the season last year, about how we played and all of that, but it made us so much stronger,” Carter said. “Not just physically, but mentally. We were through the ringer. We were going through it. It was tough. But how we feel right now mentally, it was so worth it.
“I wouldn’t change last year for anything because of how I feel, how this whole group feels. We’re so much stronger because of it.”
Carter’s confidence has been evident on the practice field so far in training camp, celebrating big plays like his read of a screen to Chase Brown that he blew up in the backfield on Day 2 or Knight’s interception of Burrow shortly after. He admits that he’s been missing an edge, but now it’s back.
“I was too timid last year,” Carter said. “If a play is made, I need to be up there screaming, pushing and headbutting. That’s the Barrett that has grown up playing football his whole life. I need to get back to that Barrett.”
That mindset extends to the entire Bengals defense to bring an edge and a sense of urgency every time they step on the field.
“Every day should be treated as the Super Bowl,” Carter said. “So, when we get to the Super Bowl, it’s not going to be this drastic change. Every day is the Super Bowl. That’s what our mindset is.”
A big part of blending that edge and urgency into results is the chemistry between Carter and Knight. Most of time, no words are needed at all to relay a message.
“We clicked instantly on and off the field. I don’t even need to say something, and he already knows what I’m thinking and vice-versa,” Carter said. “We just have that type of chemistry where not much has to be said. I’m so blessed and thankful that I get to take the field with him every single day.
“There are going to be a lot of plays between us made this year, for sure, and for years to come.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bengals banking on Demetrius Knight, Barrett Carter in 2026
Reporting by Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
