The Cincinnati Bengals open training camp with expectations as high as they’ve been in years.

Joe Burrow returns from a turf toe injury, a revamped defense features new additions like Dexter Lawrence, and several position battles will shape Cincinnati’s 2026 roster before the regular season arrives.

From linebacker development to the offensive line’s depth, here are the key storylines to follow when the Bengals hit the practice field.

Joe Burrow’s recovery, and evolution

Burrow is entering another training camp coming off a notable injury. He missed two months of football last season due to his turf toe injury. Unlike 2024, when he was recovering from a season-ending wrist injury, this new recovery carries far less uncertainty. Burrow already proved he could play at a high level after returning from turf toe.

I don’t think we’ll see many off days for Burrow, though one every now and then won’t be too surprising. What I’m most curious about is whether the under-center play action and drop back concepts the Bengals worked on during the offseason program continue to show up. Training camp is typically where the defense is well ahead of the offense, so perfection shouldn’t be the standard. I just want to see Burrow looking comfortable and clean while continuing to hone his skills operating under center.

I think we’ll see a similar preseason plan to what the Bengals deployed last year. Burrow plays about a drive in the first preseason game, maybe a handful in the second, and sits entirely in the third. That ramp-up makes sense for preserving him long-term.

Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight need every snap they can get

The starting linebackers are the players Burrow should be picking on during practice, until they prove they can’t be picked on. Carter and Knight are both entering their second seasons and will line up behind a revamped defensive line and in front of an improved safety room.

I don’t expect the front office to be eyeing these two like hawks waiting for them to fail. But there will be assessments over time about their progression, their comfort in space, and their ability to command the middle of the defense.

What I don’t want to see is guys rotating in and out with Carter and Knight. They need all the reps and all the snaps they can get. If there isn’t a savior coming via the waiver wire or a trade, everything is riding on both of them taking a second-year leap.

They need to be the answers, and the Bengals need to find out if they are by the end of camp.

Cashius Howell’s role and usage

I think Howell is the third-best option the Bengals have at rushing the passer in their defensive end group. Whether you call him a defensive end, a viper, or a hybrid linebacker who plays in a 2-point stance at the edge of the formation, I want to see how he’s utilized and how many opportunities he gets.

If Howell doesn’t advance up the depth chart early in camp, one of two things has happened. Either guys like Shamar Stewart and Cedric Johnson have taken notable steps forward, making Howell less needed, or Howell simply isn’t ready yet.

The latter would be an unexpected disappointment, but we need to see how he fares in his first camp.

Brian Parker’s first position along the offensive line

Where does Parker line up first? I’m very confident he’ll be part of the second-string unit, but does he get center reps? Does he slide in at guard next to Connor Lew if the fourth-round pick doesn’t have to start on the non-football injury list immediately? Does he get a shot at tackle?

If Parker does see time at tackle, it raises questions about Cody Ford’s roster chances. Ford was one of the incumbents who won the offseason simply by still being around. He has a legitimate shot at making the team as the backup swing tackle. But if he doesn’t look competent enough to hold that spot in camp, Parker could help push him out.

The slot cornerback battle is wide open

The main roster battle sits between outside cornerbacks DJ Turner II and Dax Hill. Jalen Davis, free agent signing Ja’Sir Taylor, and second-year undrafted player Brayln Lux are all competing for the starting slot job. All three got starting reps during the offseason program.

This position has been under the microscope since the conclusion of the draft. The Bengals invested heavily across the rest of the defense, but if none of these three options prove good enough, it could lead to a free agent signing or trade. Lux getting a real opportunity is something I’ll be watching closely.

The tone has to match the expectations

Training camp is when the tone gets set for the year. Burrow demands intensity. Lawrence will demand it as a new defensive leader. Cincinnati brought in a wave of veterans on defense to make sure everyone is on the same page, and the offense is leaning on familiar faces and star power to stay elite.

It won’t look pretty at times. That’s inevitable. But the first step toward meeting the expectations placed on this team is getting through camp the right way.