Notes From Training Camp 2025

[*pally*]

FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!

Rookies report today with vets following on the 22nd. first official practice is on the 23rd.

Today’s big question is whether Stewart and Knight will sign their contracts. Knight should with the guaranteed money logjam breaking up for the 2nd rounders.
Stewart hopefully will blink. He needs to get out on the field. He can’t practice now until he has a contract…no waivers for TC like during OTAs.

We an also should start seeing some roster moves like placing players on PUP or NFI lists if necessary

[*Synric*]

I'll put this here since we are finally going to start talking football around here lol.

They are doing Gap Controls drills. Stacking and shedding. You can see thr massive difference in Ossai's core power compared to Keis Jenkins. Completely different players. This isn't Ossai's best trait and it is Kris Jenkins best trait.

The #Bengals open camp in 9 days. I’m counting down with a daily observation:
Defensive improvement is the obvious key to returning to the postseason.
“We have to step up and can’t have another year like last year, where the defense was pulling down the team,” said Joseph Ossai. pic.twitter.com/KZc138Q6DI

— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) July 14, 2025

[Bronxbengal]

(Yesterday, 08:45 AM)Synric Wrote: I'll put this here since we are finally going to start talking football around here lol.

They are doing Gap Controls drills. Stacking and shedding. You can see thr massive difference in Ossai's core power compared to Keis Jenkins. Completely different players. This isn't Ossai's best trait and it is Kris Jenkins best trait.

The #Bengals open camp in 9 days. I’m counting down with a daily observation:
Defensive improvement is the obvious key to returning to the postseason.
“We have to step up and can’t have another year like last year, where the defense was pulling down the team,” said Joseph Ossai. pic.twitter.com/KZc138Q6DI

— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) July 14, 2025

Anyone have a picture of the Bengals first and second round picks practicing?  Oh I forgot they are not signed….NVM

[*Synric*]

(Yesterday, 08:49 AM)Bronxbengal Wrote: Anyone have a picture of the Bengals first and second round picks practicing?  Oh I forgot they are not signed….NVM

Probably won't see pictures of anyone until the Bengals release some. I think it's raining in Cincy today they are probably in the bubble.

[*pally*]

(Yesterday, 09:15 AM)Synric Wrote: Probably won't see pictures of anyone until the Bengals release some. I think it's raining in Cincy today they are probably in the bubble.

Today they probably won’t practice at all. Today is fir physicals, conditioning, and classroom

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 08:10 AM)pally Wrote: FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!

Rookies report today with vets following on the 22nd.  first official practice is on the 23rd.

Today’s big question is whether Stewart and Knight will sign their contracts. Knight should with the guaranteed money logjam breaking up for the 2nd rounders.  
Stewart hopefully will blink.  He needs to get out on the field.  He can’t practice now until he has a contract…no waivers for TC like during OTAs.

We an also should start seeing some roster moves like placing players on PUP or NFI lists if necessary

I hope you are correct on the rookies, but I don't have a lot of faith in the FO these days. To me Knight should have been easy once those around him signed. But here we are, rookies here and he is not signed. It is very disappointing to say the least. But today is a new day so maybe we will get some good news today.

[*pally*]

(Yesterday, 11:04 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I hope you are correct on the rookies, but I don't have a lot of faith in the FO these days. To me Knight should have been easy once those around him signed. But here we are, rookies here and he is not signed. It is very disappointing to say the least. But today is a new day so maybe we will get some good news today.

The guys around Knight just signed yesterday. I'm not concerned that he didn't sign immediately after...he may have been traveling to arrive in Cincinnati

[Soonerpeace]

I’m told and others posted that Zac wanted a more aggressive defense. If you aren’t very talented on defense you can’t be passive. It wasn’t a fit. Aggressive doesn’t always mean blitz crazy. I expect the coverages to change. We’ll see how it all translates

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 11:20 AM)pally Wrote: The guys around Knight just signed yesterday. I'm not concerned that he didn't sign immediately after...he may have been traveling to arrive in Cincinnati

 Yes guys did sign in droves yesterday and most around him so hopefully he signs, but Stewart is last 1st rounder to sign and it has been crickets on his potential signing as well.

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 11:20 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: I’m told and others posted that Zac wanted a more aggressive defense. If you aren’t very talented on defense you can’t be passive. It wasn’t a fit. Aggressive doesn’t always mean blitz crazy. I expect the coverages to change. We’ll see how it all translates

I do think our run defense will be much better in 2025. I like Slayton and I think the Jenkins and Jackson will take a step or 2 forward. The pass defense is a major question mark. We have a lot of DE's who need to be much better in 2025 than in 2024 if Trey is not signed. 

[Soonerpeace]

(Yesterday, 11:39 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I do think our run defense will be much better in 2025. I like Slayton and I think the Jenkins and Jackson will take a step or 2 forward. The pass defense is a major question mark. We have a lot of DE's who need to be much better in 2025 than in 2024 if Trey is not signed. 

Agreed

[jj22]

Hard to spin missing your top two draft picks along with your top pass rusher as a good start to camp, when remembering the Defense was the biggest issue that needed fixed.

I’m more worried about Stewart and Trey situation than Knight. They may be waiting to announce today when he’s here and can sign it. If he’s in the building.

I hope people aren’t putting too much pressure on Al to turn this defense around year 1. Not with the offseason and the already questionable talent. I think we need to keep our expectations for the defense in check. I think we’ll see some improvement late in the season and year 2 in the system is when you’ll see the jump.

We needed a great defensive free agency and draft, in order for AL to have the year 1 turnaround, and we didn’t get it (Slayton I agree is an upgrade).

[*pally*]

Knight is signed

Sources: The #Bengals and 2nd-round LB Demetrius Knight Jr. have agreed to a 4-year rookie deal with nearly 80 percent fully guaranteed at signing. It’s the first time in NFL history that the 49th pick has had guarantees in year four.

With Cincinnati’s rookies reporting to camp… pic.twitter.com/Vfc44XKhCQ

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) July 19, 2025

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 12:04 PM)jj22 Wrote: Hard to spin missing your top two draft picks along with your top pass rusher as a good start to camp, when remembering the Defense was the biggest issue that needed fixed.

I’m more worried about Stewart and Trey situation than Knight. They may be waiting to announce today when he’s here and can sign it. If he’s in the building.

I hope people aren’t putting too much pressure on Al to turn this defense around year 1. Not with the offseason and the already questionable talent. I think we need to keep our expectations for the defense in check. I think we’ll see some improvement late in the season and year 2 in the system is when you’ll see the jump.

We needed a great defensive free agency and draft, in order for AL to have the year 1 turnaround, and we didn’t get it (Slayton I agree is an upgrade).

How do you know our draft for defense is bad in your eyes already?

Knight is signed and did not miss camp so one positive.

[SunsetBengal]

(Yesterday, 12:12 PM)pally Wrote: Knight is signed

Sources: The #Bengals and 2nd-round LB Demetrius Knight Jr. have agreed to a 4-year rookie deal with nearly 80 percent fully guaranteed at signing. It’s the first time in NFL history that the 49th pick has had guarantees in year four.

With Cincinnati’s rookies reporting to camp… pic.twitter.com/Vfc44XKhCQ

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) July 19, 2025

Fantastic! Hopefully this is just the beginning of a lot of good news.

[jj22]

(Yesterday, 12:23 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: How do you know our draft for defense is bad in your eyes already?

Knight is signed and did not miss camp so one positive.

I didn’t say bad. They’ll take time to develop. They shouldn’t hold the weight on their shoulders to turn one of the worst defenses into a top unit. No rookie should for a championship caliber team. 

That post was more about expectations and perspective then it was slamming any of the FA signings or rookies. 

And the contract issues with top pick and pass rusher regardless of if they sign soon doesn’t necessarily sound like the makings of a quick turnaround. 

[Clark W Griswold]

Glad they got the 2nd round deal done but the 2 big signings are still out there. Hopefully TC starting will wake up both sides and they can get their edge rushers signed

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(Yesterday, 01:28 PM)Clark W Griswold Wrote: Glad they got the 2nd round deal done but the 2 big signings are still out there.  Hopefully TC starting will wake up both sides and they can get their edge rushers signed

Yep, need Trey and even Shemar whether he is a rookie or not. Shemar is a good run stopper, something Sam was great at in his prime.

None of our Ends besides Sam were good at sealing the edge and stopping the run for a while. I like that we brought back Ossai but he is 
more of a pass rusher hybrid. Murphy was terrible against the run last season being overweight and all. Hopefully we get everyone practicing
soon and the new DL coach helps big time.

[*pally*]

Erick All has been placed on PUP
Seth McLaughlin on the Non-Football Injury list

Interesting that All was placed on PUP and not IR, IR would have ended his season, PUP leaves open a chance to play

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 04:16 PM)pally Wrote: Erick All has been placed on PUP
Seth McLaughlin on the Non-Football Injury list

Interesting that All was placed on PUP and not IR,  IR would have ended his season,  PUP leaves open a chance to play

If I am reading this correctly, PUP that are part of the 53 man and can be moved to IR, but IR misses at least 4 games (not out for year). 

Does this mean Bengals think All has a shot at being ready prior to game 4?

IR: Injured reserve


Officially, the term is reserve/injured list, but it's commonly referred to as injured reserve or IR. Players are put on IR when they have a football-related injury that requires them to miss at least a few weeks. Players on IR don't count against the 53-man active roster limit, but their salaries count against the salary cap.


Players on IR must miss a minimum of four games. Teams may designate up to eight players to return from IR during the regular season (and up to 10 if a team makes the postseason). An individual player can be designated twice.

Once a player on IR is cleared to practice, they have 21 days to either be activated to the active roster or be placed on season-ending IR. They can also be released or traded.


Players who are placed on IR before the start of the regular season can miss the entire season, unless they are designated to return when the roster is trimmed to 53 players prior to the start of the season.


PUP: Physically unable to perform

Like players on IR, players are put on the active/physically unable to perform list (or PUP) at the start of training camp because of a football-related injury. The difference is these players count against the active roster limit.


Players on the PUP list can participate in all team activities except practice. They can be activated at any point during camp once they are medically cleared. A player can't be placed on the PUP list after they have practiced or played in a preseason game.

Players on the active/PUP list can be moved to the reserve/PUP list during the preseason roster cutdown period. Players won't count against the active roster limit if they're placed on the reserve/PUP list and they must miss the first four games of the season.

NFI: Non-football injury/illness

Players who suffer injuries outside of football or have a long-term illness are placed on the non-football injury/illness list. Rookies who are still recovering from injuries suffered in college are often placed on the active/NFI list to start the season.

Players who remain on the NFI list after the roster is set at 53 at the end of camp can be placed on the reserve/NFI list and will miss at least four games. They don't count against the 53-man active roster limit.