Joe Burrow and Trey Hendrickson combined for just 15 games last season, but the head coach's mentality allows the Bengals to keep their sights set on getting back to the postseason.
Coming off a third-straight season of missing the NFL playoffs, the Cincinnati Bengals came prepared to attack this offseason and get the franchise back to Super Bowl contention. Very few teams can brag about having one of the best quarterbacks in the league to run the offense, but 2024 NFL Passing Yards Leader Joe Burrow gives the Bengals that ability.
This star-studded offense has all the potential to be the absolute cream of the crop in 2026. Complementing a superstar quarterback with a Triple Crown Winner in Ja’Marr Chase and a star wide receiver partner in Tee Higgins is the recipe for success as defenses continue to adapt and improve year to year.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers Tee Higgins (5) and Ja'Marr Chase (1) | © Cara Owsley/ The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesNow that offensive guard Dalton Risner has been re-signed to a one-year deal, Burrow and the Bengals will possess the same starting five linemen going into 2026. This allows for extended continuity and chemistry that will be much needed to protect the superstar quarterback.
Protection may just be the x-factor for this offense; Burrow missed nine games last season with turf toe, and the team struggled greatly in his absence. This isn’t the first time head coach Zac Taylor has faced adversity, and his attitude has allowed him to tackle it, no matter the circumstances. He discussed this when speaking with reporters at the annual NFL meeting at the start of the new league year.
“[You can’t just] sit here and complain about the problems,” said Taylor. “Half the time, you don't even know half the problems that other teams are dealing with. I'm experienced [enough] to know I'm not the only one."
While his mentality is key when facing issues that simply cannot be resolved (like freak injuries), it’s essential to put the team in the best position to avoid them. The Bengals have had a poor offensive line in relative terms to the league’s average since Burrow was drafted as the No. 1 pick in 2020.
Extending left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. is another bright spot for Cincinnati’s front office. Signing players to extensions has not been a forte for general manager Duke Tobin, as seen with the contract holdouts for Chase, Higgins, 2024 NFL Sacks Leader Trey Hendrickson, and 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart. Getting the deal done at the very start of the league year shows the Bengals’ commitment to getting back into the postseason and capitalizing on the prime of Burrow’s career.