Bengals Might Have a BIG Problem… And It’s Not Where We Thought

The Cincinnati Bengals entered training camp with three major positional concerns heading into the 2026 NFL season: linebacker, cornerback and offensive line. Now, on August 18, it's time to reevaluate where those position groups stand after weeks of training camp and the first preseason game.

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The linebacker position was arguably the Bengals' biggest concern coming into camp. Can second-year players Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight take the major leap Cincinnati needs? Early training camp reports have been encouraging, particularly when it comes to their confidence, communication and understanding of Al Golden's defensive system. The emergence of Seesay Boseman could also provide the Bengals with valuable depth.

Cornerback is another position that appears to be trending in the right direction. DJ Turner and Dax Hill remain important pieces, but DJ Ivey has arguably been one of the biggest surprises of Bengals training camp. His performance against Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in practice has provided Cincinnati with much-needed confidence in its cornerback depth.

Unfortunately, the offensive line may be moving in the opposite direction. Cincinnati brought back all five starters and re-signed Dalton Risner, but the depth was always a concern. With Amarius Mims dealing with an injury and Orlando Brown Jr. struggling at times during training camp, questions are beginning to surface about whether the Bengals have enough depth to protect Joe Burrow.

We'll break down all three position groups, what's changed since the start of camp, and which concerns Bengals fans should still have heading into the 2026 season.

Topics covered: Cincinnati Bengals, Bengals 2026, Bengals training camp, Joe Burrow, Orlando Brown Jr., Amarius Mims, Barrett Carter, Demetrius Knight, Al Golden, DJ Ivey, DJ Turner, Bengals offensive line, Bengals linebacker, Bengals cornerback, NFL 2026.