Bengals defender sends loud message to Cincinnati's rookies
The Cincinnati Bengals are set to welcome eight new draft selections to the roster after wrapping up the 2023 NFL Draft this past weekend. And Bengals defensive lineman Joseph Ossai had a message for those rookies this week. Ossai wants Cincinnati's new additions to know that the Bengals have a target on their back. "I'll […]
The Cincinnati Bengals are set to welcome eight new draft selections to the roster after wrapping up the 2023 NFL Draft this past weekend.
And Bengals defensive lineman Joseph Ossai had a message for those rookies this week.
Ossai wants Cincinnati's new additions to know that the Bengals have a target on their back.
"I'll just say come in and work," said Ossai when asked what advice he has for the rookies. "This whole team, we know how hard it is to get where we are. And we know how hard it's going to be to do that thing again (winning the division) this year. We got a huge target on our backs just because we are who we are. We won the division twice in a row now, so just come in here and work hard — the whole team respects hard work. So if you're coming in here working hard, you'll be alright."
Ossai is wise to send that message to the rookies. The Bengals are one of those teams that will be getting everyone's "best shot" in 2023. Sure, it's the NFL and players are expected to give their best shot every week, but there's going to be a little extra juice for opposing teams when they're going up against Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and company.
The Bengals' goal in 2023 is to bring a Lombardi Trophy to Cincinnati. To do that, they'll have to navigate their way through the grind of the NFL regular season. It's not easy for any NFL team. But it's going to be especially difficult for the franchise that many analysts consider the biggest threat to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC (speaking of the Chiefs, they'll be eager to meet the Bengals again in 2023).
Cincinnati is clearly on a mission in 2023 and Ossai is making sure that every young player joining the roster is ready for the battle that awaits this fall.
