2026 Training Camp Thread

[HoosierCat]

I’ve seen everything from knee bruise to hyperextension to pcl injury to acl tear so far. Just have to wait and see.

If he misses time, well, Navy can use the reps.

[ArmyBengal]

Isn't Robinson a DT or has he lined up outside as well?

[HoosierCat]

He’s a DT, was thinking more about how they were playing Shemar inside too. In any event it looks like he will be ok. Taylor says he’s out several weeks with a hyperextension. Not believed to have any ligament damage at this point. So bullet dodged. 

[ArmyBengal]

Happy to hear that for Stewart.
No one wants to see a player go down.
Just hope it's not something that lingers through the season and holds him back.

[Prophecy]

Whew! 2 positives for Stewart.

1) It wasn't season ending.

2) May only miss a few weeks, means that he should get some preseason action in, and the kid needs as many reps as he can get.

Bullet dodged

[HoosierCat]

Just happy because that “day one season injury” thing sucks for every team and every fan and of course every player. Shit happens in this game but come on, that’s always bs. Hope he’s up for week 1.

[HoosierCat]

So I’ve been reading the coverage of the first couple days of camp and it appears that Carter and Knight are now definitely pro bowlers and probably first ballot hall of famers. See Army, I told you there was nothing to worry about!

[ArmyBengal]

Of course they are.  How could I have missed such a transition?  Silly me for worrying.
Alright boys, bring on week 1.  Our march to the Super Bowl begins now.

[COB]

I haven’t read anything but I imagine the word “comfortable” is used.  If we can somehow get average linebacker play from these two, that would be huge.  

[Stripes]

Seems like a reasonably optimal start to camp so far. The defense is making a ton of plays, which means nothing compared to a game, but it carries forward the positive energy. Moreover, Burrow keeps throwing picks (or having them dropped), which ought to light a fire under his ass too.

[HoosierCat]

I guess he didn’t want to be a raven after all.

Adenjii retires: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/former-bengals-draft-pick-suddenly-133048114.html

[HoosierCat]

Good read from Charlie.

https://substack.com/@charlieschalkboard/note/p-209674205

 

[ArmyBengal]

It’s been a while since I have been this excited to get the season going. Should certainly be fun to see it unfold.

[HoosierCat]

I have complete confidence that this year’s team is fully capable of losing another Super Bowl. Let’s go Bengals! Rip my heart out one more time!

[ArmyBengal]

That’s hilarious and sad at the same time.

[Stripes]

What's to worry about?

The Super Bowl is only at SoFi and the Rams are huge favorites. It's not like the Bengals have ever lost a bowl to the same team twice or anything.

[HoosierCat]

You can just feel it coming. Like Thanos, it’s inevitable.

[ArmyBengal]

The only thing worse than that would be to lose to the 49er's yet again.
That might drive the final nail in my football fandom.

[COB]

18 hours ago, Stripes said:

What's to worry about?

The Super Bowl is only at SoFi and the Rams are huge favorites. It's not like the Bengals have ever lost a bowl to the same team twice or anything.

And another California team as well.  

[Coltsguy451]

the NFC west (sans the Cardinals) seems to be the Thanos snap the whole AFC will have to overcome this upcoming season before endgame...good luck to us all

[ArmyBengal]

Here’s something else I was thinking about that is of interest to me.  I initially didn’t think much of the Jonathan Allen signing and said something to the effect of how it would have been good 5 years ago.

However this is where Dex Lawrence coming on board changes that thought to a degree toward the positive.  Allen has averaged 5 sacks a year through his career and had 3.5 last season.

That was his first and only season in Minnesota and didn’t have someone like Lawrence next to him. Do I think he’s going to All Pro this year? No, but at a minimum he’s an above average rotational piece and maybe more on this line.

[Stripes]

I expect excellent pass rush from the interior, yes. Lawrence, Allen, and Hill should all be above average in that regard. Training camp hype is portraying Lawrence as Godzilla too, so hopefully that isn't just the usual empty commentary.

[ArmyBengal]

I tend not to listen to anything coming out of camp anymore.
I have been burned too many times with how (name your player) is the next coming and then there's nothing.
Camp and preseason studs, especially the young guys, have a way of not getting snaps during the regular season.

A quick look today reveals that not only WR Noah Thomas, but WR Dohnte Meyers have been standouts and are threats to steal a roster spot.
This on a team that currently rosters Chase, Higgins, Iosivas, Jones, Young, Tinsley and at least 3 others I would guess are ahead of them on the depth chart.
Don't get me wrong, I love seeing more talent in camp, but "A threat" for a roster spot?  Possible, but not probable.

Honestly, as much as Noah Thomas intrigues me and I want to see him play next Thursday, that's quite the uphill battle.
Wish them the best of luck.
 

[COB]

5 hours ago, Stripes said:, so hopefully that isn't just the usual empty commentary.

Training& Certification

 

I’m sure it’s not hype.  I just saw that Burrow pried the nails out himself, climbed down from the cross, walked across the Ohio River and threw 12 touchdowns from Kentucky.  

[HoosierCat]

6 hours ago, Stripes said:

I expect excellent pass rush from the interior, yes. Lawrence, Allen, and Hill should all be above average in that regard. Training camp hype is portraying Lawrence as Godzilla too, so hopefully that isn't just the usual empty commentary.

From what Dehner has said, the defense’s success so far in camp is at least partially due to the offense focusing almost exclusively on under center stuff and less used parts of the playbook. The theory is that after six years they have the downfield passing game down, so let’s use camp to knock the rust off the rest of the playbook. And that’s led to some wins by the d as the o fiddles around.

So I wouldn’t say it’s empty commentary but the o is sort of playing with one hand behind its back right now. We’ll see how things look when they unlimber that second arm.