CINCINNATI – From bookend injuries to quarterback Joe Burrow to playing in the toughest division in the NFL to owning one of the league’s five toughest schedules in decades, the Cincinnati Bengals had a lot stacked against them in 2023.
It ultimately led to missing the playoffs for the first time since Burrow’s injury-shortened rookie year, yet the Bengals still finished above .500 for the third year in a row.
Can Joe Burrow and the Bengals Bounce Back After a Disappointing Season?
With the wrist injury behind him, Burrow and the Bengals logged their most complete training camp since his rookie season. He missed most of camp last year with a calf injury that led to a 1-3 start, and he missed several weeks in 2022 following an appendectomy.
And it’s not just Burrow. The Bengals came out of training camp largely unscathed, losing only rotational edge rusher Cam Sample to a season-ending injury.
This year’s first-round pick, offensive tackle Amarius Mims (pectoral), and last year’s top selection, edge rusher Myles Murphy (knee), are dealing with minor injuries that should not cost them more than a couple of games, if that.
The front office addressed the team’s biggest flaw — a porous, discombobulated secondary that gave up the second-most explosive pass plays in the league — with the free-agent addition of Geno Stone and return of Vonn Bell.
The veteran safeties’ presence has multiple coaches and players labeling the difference between this year’s defense and last year’s as “night and day.”
Offensively, the primary mission was to get more explosive, and trading plodding running back Joe Mixon to Houston and signing Zack Moss to pair with Chase Brown should signal a revitalized run game.
The team also nailed the draft by standing pat and using all 10 of their selections, nine of which are likely to make the 53-man roster, adding depth to an already quality starting lineup.
The final order of business will be getting Ja’Marr Chase on the field. The Pro Bowl receiver is looking for a contract extension despite having two years remaining on his current deal.
Chase skipped the voluntary offseason program, and he sat out minicamp and every practice in training camp despite being present for all but one session.
With games against the New England Patriots, Washington Commanders, and Carolina Panthers sandwiched around a Week 2 trip to Kansas City, the Bengals probably could be 3-1 out of the gate — even without Chase.
The instant Chase returns, Cincinnati should be considered a Super Bowl contender.
Bengals’ Projected Depth Chart
Quarterback (2)
Starter: Joe Burrow
Backups: Jake Browning
Running Back (3)
Starter: Zack Moss
Backups: Chase Brown, Trayveon Williams
Wide Receiver (6)
Starters: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas
Backups: Jermaine Burton, Charlie Jones, Trenton Irwin
Tight End (4)
Starter: Mike Gesicki
Backups: Drew Sample, Erick All Jr., Tanner Hudson
Offensive Line (9)
Starters: Orlando Brown Jr., Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, Trent Brown
Backups: Amarius Mims, Cody Ford, Jaxson Kirkland, Matt Lee
Defensive Tackle (5)
Starters: Sheldon Rankins, B.J. Hill
Backups: Kris Jenkins Jr., McKinnley Jackson, Zach Carter
Edge Rusher (5)
Starters: Trey Hendrickson, Sam Hubbard
Backups: Myles Murphy, Joseph Ossai, Cedric Johnson
Linebacker (5)
Starters: Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt
Backups: Joe Bachie, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Maema Njongmeta
Cornerback (6)
Starters: Cam Taylor-Britt, Dax Hill, Mike Hilton
Backups: DJ Turner II, Josh Newton, Jalen Davis
Safety (5)
Starters: Geno Stone, Vonn Bell
Backups: Jordan Battle, Daijahn Anthony, Tycen Anderson
Specialist (3)
Kicker: Evan McPherson
Punter: Brad Robbins
Long Snapper: Cal Adomitis
Bengals’ Roster Changes
Once known for their predictability in free agency due to inactivity, the Bengals were on the side of the shopping spree this past offseason.
It wasn’t just that the positions they targeted were expected; several of the names felt like ideal fits even for someone who never sat in on a meeting inside the upstairs offices at Paycor Stadium.
Fixing the secondary was the priority, and the Bengals signed Stone away from division rival Baltimore on the first day of free agency. A day later, they brought back an old friend in Bell after his one season in Carolina.
Gesicki gives Burrow a big-framed, sure-handed weapon to fall in line and become the next tight end the Cincinnati quarterback helps land a huge contract.
MORE: Simulate the NFL Season With PFN’s Playoff Predictor
Moss was the explosive upgrade they’d been searching for to offset Mixon’s aging. The Bengals informed Mixon they were cutting him before Houston stepped in and offered a seventh-round pick in a trade.
Rankins is a guy the team had targeted in the past, and it knew it couldn’t let him get away again after losing DJ Reader to the Detroit Lions.
The first-round pick was always going to be an offensive tackle, but the Bengals needed an insurance policy in case their rookie wasn’t ready to play right away. Enter Brown, a serviceable stopgap and solid swing tackle option.
Players Added:
- DT Sheldon Rankins
- S Geno Stone
- S Vonn Bell
- TE Mike Gesicki
- RB Zack Moss
- OT Trent Brown
- QB Logan Woodside
Players Lost:
- DT DJ Reader
- OT Jonah Williams
- RB Joe Mixon
- WR Tyler Boyd
- CB Chidobe Awuzie
- G Max Scharping
- S Nick Scott
- TE Irv Smith Jr.
- LB Markus Bailey
- DT Josh Tupou
- TE Mitch Wilcox
2024 Draft Class:
- 1st round, 18th pick: OT Amarius Mims
- 2nd round, 49th pick: DT Kris Jenkins
- 3rd round, 80th pick: WR Jermaine Burton
- 3rd round, 97th pick: DT McKinnley Jackson
- 4th round, 115th pick: TE Erick All
- 5th round, 149th pick: CB Josh Newton
- 6th round, 194th pick: TE Tanner McLachlan
- 6th round, 214th pick: DE Cedric Johnson
- 7th round, 224th pick: S Daijahn Anthony
- 7th round, 237th pick: C Matt Lee
Bengals’ Coaching Staff
The league’s longest run of continuity between head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator came to an end when Brian Callahan left to become the Tennesee Titans head coach after five seasons of working alongside Zac Taylor and Lou Anarumo. Dan Pitcher was elevated to the offensive coordinator position after serving as quarterbacks coach since Burrow entered the league in 2020.
Here is the full coaching staff:
- Zac Taylor, Head Coach
- Darrin Simmons, Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
- Dan Pitcher, Offensive Coordinator
- Lou Anarumo, Defensive Coordinator
- Frank Pollack, Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator
- Justin Ruscati, Passing Game Coordinator
- Brad Kragthorpe, Quarterbacks Coach
- Troy Walters, Wide Receivers Coach
- James Casey, Tight Ends Coach
- Justin Hill, Running Backs Coach
- Derek Frazier, Assistant Offensive Line Coach
- Freddi Knighten, Assistant Quarterbacks Coach
- Jordan Salkin, Offensive Assistant
- Marion Hobby, Defensive Line Coach
- James Bettcher, Linebackers Coach
- Charles Burks, Cornerbacks Coach Coach
- Jordan Kovacs, Safeties Coach
- Mark Duffner, Senior Defensive Assistant
- Ronnie Regula, Defensive Assistant
- Louis Cioffi, Defensive Quality Control Coach
- Ben Jacobs, Special Teams Assistant
- Joey Boese, Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Diamond Simmons, Strength and Conditioning Assistant
- Garrett Swanson, Strength and Conditioning Assistant
- Doug Rosfeld, Chief of Coaching Staff
Bengals’ 2024 Season Schedule
One year after having not only the toughest schedule, but one of the most difficult the league has ever seen, the Bengals catch a break in 2024 by ranking 28th in strength of schedule.
After 0-2 starts each of the last two seasons, the Bengals will play three of their first four games against teams with either a first-year head coach or rookie quarterback – or both – giving them a great chance to hit the ground running before settling into their standard second-half surge.
- Week 1: vs. New England Patriots (9/8, 1 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 2: at Kansas City Chiefs (9/15, 4:25 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 3: vs. Washington Commanders (Mon. 9/23, 8:15 p.m. on ABC)
- Week 4: at Carolina Panthers (9/29, 1 p.m. on FOX)
- Week 5: vs. Baltimore Ravens (10/6, 1 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 6: at New York Giants (10/13, 8:20 p.m. on NBC)
- Week 7: at Cleveland Browns (10/20, 1 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 8: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (10/27, 4:25 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 9: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (11/3, 1 p.m. on FOX)
- Week 10: at Baltimore Ravens (Thu. 11/7, 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video)
- Week 11: at Los Angeles Chargers (11/17, 4:25 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 12: BYE
- Week 13: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (12/1, 1 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 14: at Dallas Cowboys (Mon. 12/9, 8:15 p.m. on ESPN)
- Week 15: at Tennessee Titans, (12/15, 1 p.m. on FOX)
- Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns (Thu. 12/19, 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video)
- Week 17: vs. Denver Broncos, TBD
- Week 18: at Pittsburgh Steelers, TBD
2024 Season Prediction for the Bengals
Oddsmakers have the team’s win total set at 10.5 this year, but the Bengals are opening-line favorites in 14 of 17 games.
The 10.5 number feels more accurate than 14, but take the over if you’re inclined to place a wager.
Given that the AFC North is the best division in football and the Bengals are 10-20 against the Ravens, Steelers and Browns during the Taylor era (with their 4-2 mark in 2021 being the only time above .500), 3-3 feels like a good baseline.
How the Bengals fare in their other 11 games will dictate their final record and what should be a playoff seed.
Record Prediction: 11-6 (2nd in the AFC North)
Listen to the PFN Bengals Podcast
Listen to the PFN Bengals Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Bengals Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Bengals Podcast on our NFL YouTube channel.
