Tag: Cincinnati Bengals

This Bengals X-Factor will determine how far Cincy can go

This Bengals X-Factor Will Determine How Far Cincy Can Go

When Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow scanned the field in their preseason opener, his first two reads — Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins — were covered. So, he dumped the ball off to running back Chase Brown.

Brown took what could have been a neutral play and turned it into a gain, stiff-arming a defender before scooting down the sideline for nine yards. On the surface, it was a routine preseason snap. In reality, it was a reminder of how important Brown and the Bengals’ running backs will be to the offense this year.

According to ESPN’s Ben Baby, running backs coach Justin Hill tells his players before the summer break:

“Obviously we’re going to run the ball when we can, but we’re going to throw the ball and win games. And if you can’t protect and if you’re not a viable option in the pass game, you’re going to have a hard time being successful in this offense as a running back.”

That approach puts a premium on versatility — and it’s why Brown, entering his third season, could be the offense’s true X-factor.

Building Around Brown

The Bengals were 14th in running back receiving yards last year, well behind Detroit’s league-leading 904. But when Zack Moss went down with a season-ending neck injury, Brown stepped up as the featured back.

Now entrenched in that role, Cincinnati added rookie Tahj Brooks from Texas Tech and brought back veteran Samaje Perine — valued for his receiving skills and pass protection during past playoff runs.

Brown spent the offseason refining his pass-catching ability in Atlanta with trainer Drew Lieberman, going head-to-head with NFL defenders like Jets cornerback Michael Carter II.

“I’m just always keeping my eyes on [Burrow] and being ready for anything,” Brown said. “I mean, he’s the best in the world at what he does. He’s going to figure out a way to get you the ball.”

More Than First-and-10

Hill said evaluating a back goes beyond rushing ability:

“What else do you do if it’s not first-and-10? If it’s third-and-5, can we count on you in pass protection? That’s one of the first things I watch — is he a liability or can he do it? Can he take on a big role on third down?”

For Brooks, Cincinnati’s sixth-round pick, that’s already a point of pride. The Red Raiders’ all-time leading rusher, he also excelled in pass protection in college.

“I love breaking linebackers off in pass protection and then not afraid to gash them whenever that time is presented,” Brooks said.

With Burrow’s elite arm and the Bengals’ loaded receiver corps, the offense will always be pass-first. But the backs’ ability to protect, catch, and create yards after contact could be the detail that determines how far Cincinnati goes in 2025.

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Seahawks GM explains why team released Noah Fant despite productive run

Noah Fant’s surprising release from the Seattle Seahawks this offseason had fans and analysts questioning the team’s direction. On Monday, general manager John Schneider pulled back the curtain on what drove the move — and it came down to tough financial decisions.

“He works his tail off, he can run. He’s a good tight end, and he’ll have a very nice, productive year this year,” Schneider said, via The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar. “We just felt like… can we use that cash to help our team in a different manner?”

Fant, who was traded to Seattle as part of the blockbuster Russell Wilson deal in 2022, had become a reliable piece in the Seahawks’ offense. But with a projected salary the team felt could be better spent elsewhere, Schneider and the front office chose to let him walk. He signed a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals worth up to $4.25 million, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

In explaining the choice, Schneider emphasized the organization’s confidence in its depth at tight end following a strong offseason from the position group.

“Are we OK at that position? While we never feel like we’re totally covered, guys did have very strong springs,” he added.

The Bengals, meanwhile, wasted no time capitalizing. After re-signing veteran Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati added Fant to give quarterback Joe Burrow a reliable two-tight end setup — something that’s been missing during the early years of his tenure. Fant joins an offense that’s aiming for greater balance and explosiveness in 2025.

The Seahawks’ decision to part ways wasn’t about performance — it was about value and fit. And for Fant, the fresh start in Cincinnati could turn into an ideal landing spot as he looks to rebound on a prove-it deal in a Super Bowl-caliber offense.

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Trey Hendrickson, Bengals at contract standstill over guarantees

Trey Hendrickson’s future with the Cincinnati Bengals remains uncertain as the team and the star pass rusher remain locked in a contract dispute heading into the 2025 NFL season.

Despite Hendrickson’s consistent production and a cap environment that continues to skyrocket, the Bengals are reportedly offering only a one-year guarantee on any proposed extension. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the lack of long-term financial security is a major sticking point in negotiations.

The 30-year-old defensive end is set to earn $16 million in 2025 — a figure well below the market value for elite edge defenders. Hendrickson is said to be targeting a deal in the range of Maxx Crosby’s $35.5 million per year, far above the $28 million average Cincinnati reportedly proposed earlier this offseason.

Hendrickson’s camp is also pushing for structural changes to the deal. While other top pass rushers have secured three years of guaranteed money, the Bengals continue their typical approach of limiting guarantees to the first year — a strategy they rarely deviate from for non-quarterbacks.

This structure is nothing new for Cincinnati. Even with their stars, the Bengals have shown reluctance. Ja’Marr Chase’s new extension includes three years of guarantees “as a practical matter,” while Tee Higgins’ situation reflects the same hesitation, with only partial guarantees into the second year.

Meanwhile, the gap between Hendrickson’s value and the Bengals’ offer only grows more pronounced when compared to recent mega-deals. While the Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt contracts (both over $40 million annually) are likely out of reach, their existence helps justify Hendrickson’s case for closer-to-top-tier compensation.

If the Bengals don’t budge — both in structure and in average annual value — this impasse could stretch deeper into the offseason. Hendrickson’s production has warranted a raise, but whether Cincinnati is willing to meet market standards remains to be seen.

Stay tuned to OutOfSightSports for more updates on the Bengals and Trey Hendrickson’s contract situation.

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