Preseason football is underway in Cincinnati as the Bengals host their first exhibition game against the Detroit Lions at Paycor Stadium at 7 p.m. Aug. 13.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said the starters are expected to play. It’s unclear if this will be the only game the starters play in, but it’s noteworthy that quarterback Joe Burrow, wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence will take the field together for the first time this preseason.
“Limited series so it won’t be a ton of time, but for our fans to come out there, they’re going to see Joe and Ja’Marr and Tee,” Taylor said on Aug. 11. “They’re going to see Dexter. So, they’ll get a chance to enjoy some of our players there, but how long I keep him out there remains to be seen.”
Here are the biggest storylines to follow over the next month:
How much does Joe Burrow play in preseason games?
Burrow wants to make sure he’s in the best shape he can be when the regular season begins on Sept. 13 when the Bengals host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He values preseason reps, but protecting him remains Taylor’s No. 1 job. Burrow is heading into his seventh NFL season and has already undergone three major surgeries, including last season when he suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury.
Ahead of the 2025 season, Burrow played the most he’s ever played in his career in the preseason. He saw action in two exhibition games, completing 18 of 24 passes for 185 yards and one touchdown.
There’s a balance needed to give Burrow snaps but not overdo it, and we’ll see what that looks like over the next three weeks.
“The more times you can have game speed reps, the more acclimated you’ll be come Week 1,” Burrow said on July 29. “So, I’m always pushing for it and willing to do it. We’ll see what we decide. I thought last year was good.”
Bengals defensive line is stacked this year. Who makes the cut?
One of the deepest position rooms on the Bengals’ roster is the defensive line. Cincinnati added three veteran defensive linemen before the draft in Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen and Lawrence.
Then, the team added two more players to the room in rookies Cashius Howell and Landon Robinson.
Bengals director of personnel Duke Tobin and Taylor will have some challenging decisions to make as far as who makes the 53-man roster.
Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson are two players to keep an eye on this month. Jenkins and Jackson were the Bengals’ second- and third-round picks in 2024, and both could be fighting for their roster spots during the preseason.
“I think they’ve had good camps, and I think the guys around them have had good camps, too,” Taylor said. “I think it’s really healthy competition where it’s not necessarily guys falling behind. It’s guys surging forward. I think everyone’s really elevated their play and taken a necessary step.”
Punt/kick returner battle will be in full force
The Bengals return all of their offensive starters from the 2025 season. Defensively, the Bengals have three new starters and after that, there are not many position battles in the starting lineup.
Special teams is a different story, though.
There is a full-on battle going on at the returner spot, and it’s up for grabs. Wide receivers Charlie Jones and Ke’Shawn Williams are competing for the starting spot.
Taylor said the player who wins this job will be the one who shows the most consistency with the football in their hands.
“You got to be dependable,” Taylor said. “I think that’s the biggest thing is you (have) to make sure you secure the catch. We’ve had games in our lifetime here where that was a problem.”
Jones is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and enters the preseason as the No. 1 option at returner because of his experience in the role.
Williams returned nine punts for 95 yards after joining the team in December after the Pittsburgh Steelers released him.
In three seasons with the Bengals, Jones has returned 50 punts for 462 yards and one touchdown. Jones has primarily served as the Bengals’ punt returner but last year returned 42 kicks for 1,084 yards.
“I certainly think there’s a battle there, and everybody’s going to get opportunities,” Taylor said.
Will the Bengals defense look different?
The Bengals gave up a franchise-high 28.9 yards per game in 2025.
At every level on defense, Cincinnati needs improvement, and the preseason games will allow defensive coordinator Al Golden and Taylor their first glimpses of what the unit looks like against another team.
It’s worth noting that offensive and defensive coordinators don’t like to show much of scheme and plans for the upcoming season in these games for competitive advantages.
But there will be some things that are different simply because of the new faces. Safety Bryan Cook and cornerback Dax Hill won’t play, said Taylor.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Interesting storylines to watch as Bengals begin preseason games
Reporting by Kelsey Conway, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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By Kelsey Conway, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
