Bengals unveil which safety is currently the starter next to Geno Stone during first OTA practice
The new-look safety group for the Cincinnati Bengals is taking shape, and we got our first glimpse at the starters during the team's opening OTA practice session.Geno Stone and Vonn Bell, two free agent signings from this offseason, are the two starting safeties with Jordan Battle coming on with the second team. Stone being out […]
The new-look safety group for the Cincinnati Bengals is taking shape, and we got our first glimpse at the starters during the team's opening OTA practice session.
Geno Stone and Vonn Bell, two free agent signings from this offseason, are the two starting safeties with Jordan Battle coming on with the second team.
Stone being out there is no surprise. The Bengals are paying him an average of $7 million per year over the next two years to start at free safety.
The player lining up next to him was up for debate.
Bell started three years in Lou Anarumo's defense from 2020-22 before leaving last offseason in free agency. A month after his departure, the Bengals drafted Jordan Battle to help offset that loss, and Battle specifically played well as a rookie.
With Battle logging several starts at strong safety to end the 2023 season, there was speculation that he would maintain his starter status despite Bell's return on a one-year deal. As seen in the first 11-on-11 reps of OTAs, Bell (#24) is on the field with the starters, not Battle.
Battle may ultimately be rotated in with Bell throughout the offseason as the defense looks to establish its lineup for September, but Bell getting the first run at safety with Stone is noteworthy to say the least.
The nine-year veteran was sorely missed last year in this defense, and Anarumo and Co. aren't wasting anytime in re-integrating him with the starting unit.
Lou Anarumo reveals how quickly he contacted safety Vonn Bell about returning to the Bengals
Bell is back in the Queen City one year after he left.
