Cincinnati Bengals 2025 Preview: Joe Burrow is back from injury and throwing bombs to Ja'Marr Chase. But can a revamped defense support the offense?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The buzz in Cincinnati is palpable, and it all starts with one man: Joe Burrow. With his 2023 wrist injury firmly in the rearview, the franchise quarterback is 'feeling good' and slinging the ball with the kind of confidence that reignites Super Bowl talk. But as the Bengals gear up for training camp, the optimism surrounding Burrow is shadowed by pressing questions on the other side of the ball and on the sidelines.
'I'm feeling good right now.'
Let's get one thing straight: when Joe Burrow is healthy, the Bengals are contenders. Period. After a spectacular 2024 campaign where he led the entire NFL with 43 touchdown passes, all eyes have been on his recovery. The early reports are more than promising. Minicamp provided a tantalizing glimpse of what's to come, highlighted by a breathtaking 70-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase. It was a statement throw, a message to the league that the arm is live and the connection is as electric as ever. Burrow's quiet confidence is the engine for this team's ambitions, and right now, that engine is roaring.
While the offense looks ready to light up scoreboards, the defense is undergoing a seismic shift born from necessity. You don't lose four games when scoring 33-plus points, as the Bengals did last season, without major consequences. The first domino to fall was defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, let go after his unit finished a dismal 25th in total yards allowed. This puts head coach Zac Taylor, now in his seventh season, squarely on the hot seat. The team's frustrating habit of slow starts—losing the first two games in five of his six seasons—is no longer acceptable. With the Baltimore Ravens looming as perennial division threats, Taylor must have this team firing on all cylinders from Week 1. The pressure is immense.
The defensive rebuild isn't just about coaching; it's about personnel. The Bengals invested heavily in the draft, using three of their six picks on defense. However, first-round DE Shemar Stewart is currently in a contract impasse, a situation the team needs resolved before camp. The hope is that second-year end Myles Murphy can fill the massive shoes of the retired Sam Hubbard. On offense, rookie running back Tahj Brooks is generating buzz as he prepares for his first camp, looking to carve out a role. But the roster is also riddled with uncertainty. Key players like center Seth McLaughlin (Achilles), DE B.J. Hill (foot), and cornerback Daxton Hill (ACL) are all on the mend, their status for the Week 1 opener against Cleveland very much in doubt. This team needs its new pieces to contribute immediately, but it also needs its veterans healthy.
So, here we stand on the cusp of training camp, with a familiar Bengals paradox: an elite, Super Bowl-caliber offense led by a healthy Joe Burrow, paired with a defense in transition and a coach facing a make-or-break year. Will the defensive overhaul pay off? Can Zac Taylor finally conquer the team's early-season demons? The answers will begin to emerge when the pads come on. All eyes are now on the official training camp dates and that critical Week 1 showdown in Cleveland.
