Kyle Dugger Opens Up About Bengals Defense During OTAs

The Cincinnati Bengals signed veteran safety Kyle Dugger to a one-year deal on April 2, adding another experienced piece to a defense that underwent significant changes this offseason.

Dugger joins a revamped unit that already features newcomers such as Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, and Bryan Cook. While some of those additions arrived with bigger headlines, Dugger enters the 2026 season aiming to provide some versatility to defensive coordinator Al Golden’s unit.

The 30-year-old projects as a key piece in Cincinnati’s sub-packages alongside Cook and Jordan Battle. Dugger can line up as a deep safety, operate in the box, drop into coverage, or blitz off the edge depending on the situation. His positional flexibility is a major reason the Bengals targeted him in free agency.

Dugger joins Cincinnati after a busy 2025 season. He was traded from the New England Patriots to the Pittsburgh Steelers in October and started all nine games following the move. Across 16 appearances and 13 starts between the two teams, he remained a reliable contributor despite having to learn a new defensive system in the middle of the season.

Over seven NFL seasons, Dugger has appeared in 90 games with 78 starts, recording 483 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, and three forced fumbles. Perhaps most importantly for a Bengals defense that struggled with consistency last year, he missed only three tackles while playing more than 700 defensive snaps in 2025.

After missing several sessions to attend to a family matter, Dugger finally made his first appearance at Bengals OTAs on Tuesday. Following the team’s practice session, he was asked why Cincinnati appealed to him this offseason.

“Just the defense. It’s a young defense and the scheme is familiar,” Dugger said. “I was able to gain experience with the last two defenses… I just felt like it was a good place” (h/t Mike Petraglia of CLNS).

Golden prefers defensive backs who can handle multiple responsibilities without requiring substitutions, allowing the defense to disguise coverages and adjust personnel less frequently. Dugger spent six years in New England developing precisely that skill set.

He also has firsthand experience against Cincinnati’s offense. During his time with the Patriots, Dugger faced the Bengals twice, including New England’s season-opening victory in 2024 when Cincinnati managed just 70 rushing yards on 16 carries.

“Pep and I were left and right that year,” Dugger said. “I was primarily a free safety. But in that game, I just happened to be down a little more.”

Now he will be asked to bring that same versatility to Cincinnati.