Bengals Acknowledge Areas for Growth Following Preseason Opener
CINCINNATI, OH — The Cincinnati Bengals opened their preseason campaign with a 19-15 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night, a game that offered as many questions as it did answers. While the result ultimately holds little weight in the standings, it gave the coaching staff and players a valuable first look at how the roster is shaping up—and where clear improvements are needed.
Head coach Zac Taylor was quick to focus on the positives and development opportunities after the game, rather than the final score.
“There were some good individual moments out there, but overall, we didn’t execute at the level we expect,” Taylor said in his postgame remarks. “That’s what preseason is for—learning where we need to clean things up.”
Offensive Struggles and Quarterback Depth
With Joe Burrow still sidelined while managing his recovery from a right calf strain, the Bengals’ quarterback reps were split between backup Jake Browning and newcomer Trevor Siemian. Neither passer was able to find much rhythm, combining for just 128 yards through the air, one interception, and no touchdowns.
“There were missed throws and some timing issues, but that comes with the territory when you’re rotating guys and trying to evaluate,” said offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher. “We’re looking for someone to take command.”
The offensive line—still experimenting with combinations beyond the starting five—allowed three sacks and struggled to create consistent running lanes. Rookie RB Chase Brown showed flashes, including a 17-yard run, but the ground game never fully clicked.
Defensive Bright Spots
While the offense was inconsistent, the defense showed encouraging signs. The Bengals’ front seven applied pressure early, with rookie edge rusher Myles Murphy recording a quarterback hit and nearly notching a sack in his NFL debut.
Second-year linebacker Cam Taylor-Britt also stood out with a pass breakup and solid coverage throughout the first half. The secondary held Buccaneers starter Baker Mayfield to just 57 yards in limited action.
“There’s definitely some good tape from the defense,” said Taylor. “Guys were flying to the ball, communicating well, and we forced a couple of key third-down stops.”
Penalties and Special Teams Woes
One of the biggest areas of concern came in the form of penalties. The Bengals were flagged eight times for 72 yards, including multiple false starts and holding calls that killed drives.
Special teams also had a shaky night. Rookie kicker Tanner Brown missed a 46-yard field goal attempt and had a kickoff sail out of bounds, issues the Bengals can’t afford during the regular season.
“Discipline is an easy thing to correct, but it takes focus and reps,” said Taylor. “That’s something we’ll address heavily this week in practice.”
Looking Ahead
With two more preseason games remaining, the Bengals have time to sharpen execution and fine-tune personnel decisions. Position battles remain ongoing at backup quarterback, right tackle, and in the secondary.
Despite the sluggish start, players emphasized that there’s no panic—only urgency.
“We’ve got a high standard,” said defensive tackle DJ Reader. “We’re not there yet, but we’ll get there. That’s what camp and these games are for.”
The Bengals will travel to face the Chicago Bears next week, with the coaching staff expected to give more extended reps to players on the roster bubble.
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