Cincinnati Bengals OTAs: Storylines, player absences, position battles, and everything else you need to know
Organized Team Activities, also known as OTAs, kick off for the Cincinnati Bengals and most other NFL teams this week. It's a crucial step in the progression of the offseason as voluntary workouts transition to a more traditional practice format.We're still far away from contact in the trenches in the grueling summer heat, but OTAs […]
Organized Team Activities, also known as OTAs, kick off for the Cincinnati Bengals and most other NFL teams this week. It's a crucial step in the progression of the offseason as voluntary workouts transition to a more traditional practice format.
We're still far away from contact in the trenches in the grueling summer heat, but OTAs bring 7-on-7, 9-on-9, and even 11-on-11 work for the first time this year. It's a good opportunity for new and young players to make early impressions before the summer break leading up to training camp, and for more experienced players to further establish leadership roles.
Here are the things you need to know about the Bengals at the start of OTAs.
Trey Hendrickson is still holding out for his new contract
Don't expect Hendrickson to make an appearance for OTAs. The last major contract the Bengals need to work out has his name on it, and at 30 years old, this could be the last significant pay day he'll have the chance of signing.
Hendrickson has just one year remaining on his deal and is scheduled to make a non-guaranteed $16 million this season. He's seeking a new long-term deal and is using his 2024 All-Pro season to cash in with security for the future.
Cincinnati is playing its usual hardball tactics with Hendrickson and is betting on him caving sometime before the season begins. The four-time Pro Bowler has definitely earned a pay raise and guaranteed money for the next few years, but the Bengals know they hold the leverage in this situation. Staying away from the team is his only recourse, along with the occasional message through the media.
Shemar Stewart is still holding out for his first contract
The Bengals' first-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft is also not expected to participate in OTAs due to contractual reasons. Stewart has yet to sign his rookie contract and is refraining from practicing until he agrees to terms.
Reports say Cincinnati wants to include language in Stewart's deal that differs compared to recent contracts Bengals players have signed such as last year's first-round pick Amarius Mims. The language boils down to a phrase that "causes a default in the current year to trigger a default in all remaining years." Essentially, Stewart's guaranteed money would be more at risk compared to players that have come before him.
It's not uncommon for first-round picks to be unsigned only a month after the draft, but Stewart is the only first-rounder who hasn't practiced with his new team yet. Don't expect that to change this week unless both sides agree on a deal.
Battles at both guard spots commence
The edges and middle of the Bengals' offensive line is set in stone. The guards in-between the positions of certainty are written in pencil. The two who are taking first-team reps today may be different compared to next week, and no one knows what August and eventually September will bring.
Third-round pick Dylan Fairchild is expected to have an edge at left guard considering his draft status while a handful of more experienced players will have chances at right guard. Cody Ford, Lucas Patrick, and Cordell Volson will all make a run at the opening. It's also plausible Fairchild gets rotated out for one of the three on the left side while the offseason is still young.
Shells and full pads are no where to be found until late July/early August so the actual work along the o-line doesn't mean too much at the moment. What matters is who's on the field with the starters. That will give us an early glance at where the coaches see the group.
New-look defense with mostly familiar faces
Now that offenses and defenses can line up against one another, we'll get a taste of Al Golden's new personnel packages and how they match against one of the best passing offenses in the game today.
No Hendrickson or Stewart means Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai will get ample reps at defensive end. B.J. Hill's foot injury also paves the way for Kris Jenkins Jr. to rep next to T.J. Slaton at defensive tackle.
Second-round pick Demetrius Knight Jr. is practicing despite being unsigned like Stewart. He's likely to be next to Logan Wilson at linebacker with Germaine Pratt away from the team due to his trade request. Free agent acquisition Oren Burks and fourth-round pick Barrett Carter