Center Connor Lew and receiver Colbie Young flashed elite potential against Chicago, proving Cincinnati’s latest draft class possesses the raw tools to eventually anchor both offensive units.
The Cincinnati Bengals played their second preseason game against the Chicago Bears on Saturday evening and won 27-9. No starters played for Cincinnati, but they were still finding tons of success on both sides of the ball.
Defensive tackle Landon Robinson was the star of the show, recording three tackles and 1.5 sacks. This is his second straight game in which he has shown real intangibles and the ability to impact the game on Cincinnati’s defensive line.
However, two rookies on the offensive side of the ball also made an impact and have made many think they have a future with the organization, even if they might not play big roles this season.
The first is center Connor Lew, who played in his first game since October 18, 2025, after tearing his ACL in his final season with the Auburn Tigers. He took snaps with the first team in practice on August 11 and has a chance to develop into the center of the future for Cincinnati. The Bengals' decision to draft a 20-year-old center with a premium fourth-round pick absolutely signals that they believe he can play a key role in the future.
Ted Karras has signed one-year deals for the 2025 and 2026 seasons and will be 34 shortly after this upcoming season. Keep a close eye on Lew for the rest of the season to see reports on whether he is the center of the future.
Another offensive rookie is Colbie Young, who has five receptions for 76 yards and a score in the last two games. Josh Johnson dropped a perfect pass on a fade route in the red zone to Young, who easily created a lot of separation for the score.
Ian Hartitz of Rotowire broke down Young’s film from the game against the Bears and pointed out how well he moves for someone who’s 6’4” and 200+ pounds. Young ran a 10-yard inside stem route, where he fakes inside and breaks toward the sideline, again opening up a lot of space for a throw.
Andrei Iosivas and Mitchell Tinsley seem to have the WR3 spot sealed up at this point in the preseason, which was surprising given how well Young had been playing, especially considering his physical ceiling. However, both Tinsley and Iosivas are veterans who are familiar with the system. I don’t think Cincinnati needs to rush Young, who could have a bright future with the Bengals.
