Zac Taylor Reveals Starters’ Status for First Preseason Game

The Cincinnati Bengals are not expected to give their starters an extended workload in the preseason opener, but head coach Zac Taylor confirmed they will see the field for a bit against Detroit on Thursday night.

For a team entering the year with high expectations, the decision provides an early opportunity for both sides of the ball to compete against a different team for the first time this offseason. The Bengals have spent training camp emphasizing communication and consistency, making live action valuable for the starting unit, even if they are only on the field for a drive or two.

For the offense, the biggest benefit could come from simply putting the first-team unit into a game environment together. The offense is full of experienced veterans, but the opportunity to work together at a quicker pace will be beneficial, especially with the new formations and schemes they have shown at training camp.

That could be particularly important for a group looking to find its rhythm early in the season. A few series against another defense can provide a different test than a controlled training camp practice, especially when it comes to identifying issues with protection, route timing and pre-snap communication.

The defensive side of the ball should benefit even more.

Cincinnati invested heavily in reshaping the defense over the offseason and expects the unit to be significantly better than it was a season ago. New and developing pieces are all over the field, and they will need to establish how they will assimilate when the speed and pressure of a game increase.

For defensive coordinator Al Golden, even a short stretch of preseason action could offer an early indication of whether the communication improvements seen during camp translate to a game.

The limited workload also reflects the balancing act of preseason football. Taylor wants his starters to gain valuable game reps without exposing key players to unnecessary injury risk, but with a shortened training camp schedule, maybe more reps in preseason games make more sense.

Cincinnati does not need its starters to dominate in the preseason — it needs them to become comfortable and connected against other teams. A clean possession on offense leading to a score and a disciplined defensive series resulting in a stop or even a turnover will be more meaningful than a long stretch for the starting unit.

Taylor's decision to play the starters, even briefly, suggests the Bengals believe there is value in getting that process started now. With the slow starts the franchise has been prone to in recent years, every opportunity to find a rhythm early is crucial.