It appears the Bengals have turned up the heat in minicamp compared to past years.
Slow starts have kept the Cincinnati Bengals out of the playoffs each of the past two seasons, and it appears head coach Zac Taylor and his staff are turning up the heat in order to prevent more September woes.
Veteran center Ted Karras, who is entering his fourth season with the Bengals after spending a combined five seasons with the New England Patriots, in which he won two Super Bowls, hinted at more intense summer practices than in years past.
“We went out there for the last nine or 10 practices and really got after it – more so than we have in the past,” Karras told Bengals radio broadcaster Dan Hoard.
The Bengals opened the 2023 season 0-2 and fell to 1-3 before rattling off four straight victories, but then fell to 5-4 with a loss to the Houston Texans and lost to the Baltimore Ravens to fall to 5-5 in a game in which Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending injury.
Last season, the Bengals started 0-3, and then after a Week 4 win over the Carolina Panthers, lost to the Ravens in Week 5, falling to 1-4, and were unable to climb out of the early-season hole.
The Bengals will open the 2025 season on the road against the Cleveland Browns before returning home to host the Jacksonville Jaguars. Thus, there is simply no excuse for falling behind the eight-ball again this season.