The Cincinnati Bengals prepare to face the Cleveland Browns in their season opener. The Bengals aim for improvement in their pass rush beyond Trey Hendrickson, while wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase anticipates a challenging matchup against Browns cornerback Denzel Ward.
The Cincinnati Bengals are gearing up for their season opener against their rivals, the Cleveland Browns , on Sunday. There's anticipation surrounding the Bengals ' pass rush, aiming to go beyond Trey Hendrickson 's contributions from last season. Hendrickson, who accounted for 17.5 of the team's 36 sacks in 2024, will be joined by Joseph Ossai , who showed promising strides in the latter half of last season.
Ossai recorded all five of his sacks over the final seven games, leading to his re-signing for another year. The Bengals are also hoping for a breakout year from first-round pick Myles Murphy, who struggled in his first couple of seasons and had an inconsistent training camp due to an injury.He's back healthy and expected to play a considerable role in this game. There's also the promising Shemar Stewart, a first-round pick this year, who displayed flashes of his potential during training camp. However, contract issues and missing time caused him to miss the first three camp practices and the entire offseason program. Stewart's versatility is expected to be valuable, with the potential to play both defensive end and tackle on passing downs. The Bengals are also rotating defensive tackles B.J. Hill and Kris Jenkins to provide more rest for Hill and utilize Jenkins' development from an inconsistent rookie season characterized by a hand injury.Coach Zac Taylor emphasized the importance of rotating the defensive line throughout the game, ensuring freshness and playing to each player's strengths. On a offensive note, Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, coming off a remarkable Triple Crown season where he led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches, is expected to face a tough challenge from Browns' cornerback Denzel Ward, a four-time Pro Bowler. They have a history of matchups, with Chase targeted 16 times by Ward in their previous six encounters, resulting in eight catches for 91 yards and one touchdown. Ward has also intercepted three passes intended for Chase, including a 99-yard return for a touchdown in their last encounter in Cincinnati. The Bengals have also shuffled their offensive line with two new starting guards from the 2024 crew
Bengals Browns NFL Ja'marr Chase Denzel Ward Trey Hendrickson Joseph Ossai Myles Murphy Shemar Stewart
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