Colbie Young Is Ready to Prove He Belongs in Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Bengals selected wide receiver Colbie Young in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins signing contract extensions the year before, it was obvious Young would spend time as a backup, with a slight chance to contend for a starting position on the back end of the depth chart.

Through the first two weeks of training camp, the rookie has turned some heads and looks to have a real shot at seeing the field in his first NFL season.

Young spoke to Jeremy Rauch of FOX19 following Tuesday’s practice, and a big theme throughout the interview was his confidence and excitement about being in Cincinnati. He said he was ready to showcase his talent in Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Lions, expressing how this has been everything he’s ever dreamed of.

Rauch then mentioned that it seems Young has earned Joe Burrow’s trust on certain plays based on how he has performed throughout training camp, and I think that’s fair. Young has made some outstanding contested catches and has used his 6-foot-4, 218-pound frame to create space downfield.

Trust is everything for Young. He said that without trust, he wouldn’t be able to make plays because he wouldn’t get the opportunities to do so. Young has certainly cemented himself as a reliable target in the wide receiver room, and that all started with his knowledge of the playbook.

Young said simply becoming familiar with the new playbook was the moment he felt like he was settling into his new team. On top of learning an entirely new scheme, the rookie has also been lining up at several different positions, including outside and in the slot.

That’s all to give him the best chance of earning playing time. He knows he won’t be stealing snaps from Chase or Higgins, but wants his versatility to make it difficult for the Bengals to keep him off the field.

Young will be one of the players to watch Thursday night against Detroit. His versatility and catch-making ability will be on full display for those who haven’t been able to watch training camp. It will be interesting to see where he lines up and what formations he is on the field for.

Above all, Young wants to prove he belongs. He is currently slotted as a backup on Cincinnati’s first depth chart of the season, but he’s still in the running to take over the WR3 role currently held by Andrei Iosivas. Thursday’s matchup with the Lions offers Young his first opportunity to showcase his ability against another team.

“I just want to prove I belong here,” Young said. “I want to prove I can compete at a high level and be a great teammate in every aspect of the game.”