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With training camp approaching, signaling that the start of the season is right around the corner, we are breaking down the biggest position battles you need to monitor for the Bengals during training camp.
Safety: Kyle Dugger vs. Jordan Battle
Bryan Cook joins the roster as the No. 1 safety and a leader on the defense, but that second safety will play an important role in the Bengals’ defense and is up for grabs. Jordan Battle will be the presumptive pick for many fans, but Kyle Dugger was signed as a seven-year veteran who spent six seasons with the New England Patriots before being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. He has posted 50-plus tackles four times, but his production has started to slide as he has aged.
Meanwhile, Battle recorded an eye-popping 125 tackles in his third season and could be trending toward his best season as a professional. However, Dugger could take a lot of snaps as a veteran and completely take over Battle’s role if he isn’t careful.
Wide receiver No. 3: Andre Iosivas vs. Charlie Jones vs. Colbie Young
While this may have the fewest consequences among the position battles, the third wide receiver will still be a topic of conversation during training camp. The safe bet is sticking with Andre Iosivas, who has been able to carve out a decent role in the offense as a depth piece, but an uber-athletic young receiver like Colbie Young could make training camp interesting if he can break out and make a name for himself. However, having a tough, do-it-all receiver like Iosivas would mesh well with the elite duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Additionally, Charlie Jones made some highlight plays during camp and has been lobbying for more snaps, but the most likely place he’ll end up is as the Bengals’ lead return man on kickoffs and punts.
Defensive end: Cassius Howell vs. Boye Mafe vs. Shemar Stewart vs. Myles Murphy
This will probably be the most interesting battle of training camp because each player has his own case to be a starter. Cassius Howell offers a hybrid outside linebacker-defensive end skill set and was just taken in the second round. The Bengals just gave Boye Mafe a lot of money. Shemar Stewart was taken with a first-round pick in last year’s draft, while Myles Murphy is trying to play himself into an extension.
I think the wild card is Murphy. He’s coming off a 28-tackle, 5.5-sack season in 2025 and has the motivation of a possible big payday in his future. If things don’t go according to plan with Mafe, Murphy could capitalize on the addition of Dexter Lawrence and have success in one-on-one matchups this upcoming season.
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Safety: Kyle Dugger vs. Jordan Battle
Bryan Cook joins the roster as the No. 1 safety and a leader on the defense, but that second safety will play an important role in the Bengals’ defense and is up for grabs. Jordan Battle will be the presumptive pick for many fans, but Kyle Dugger was signed as a seven-year veteran who spent six seasons with the New England Patriots before being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. He has posted 50-plus tackles four times, but his production has started to slide as he has aged.
Meanwhile, Battle recorded an eye-popping 125 tackles in his third season and could be trending toward his best season as a professional. However, Dugger could take a lot of snaps as a veteran and completely take over Battle’s role if he isn’t careful.
Wide receiver No. 3: Andre Iosivas vs. Charlie Jones vs. Colbie Young
While this may have the fewest consequences among the position battles, the third wide receiver will still be a topic of conversation during training camp. The safe bet is sticking with Andre Iosivas, who has been able to carve out a decent role in the offense as a depth piece, but an uber-athletic young receiver like Colbie Young could make training camp interesting if he can break out and make a name for himself. However, having a tough, do-it-all receiver like Iosivas would mesh well with the elite duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Additionally, Charlie Jones made some highlight plays during camp and has been lobbying for more snaps, but the most likely place he’ll end up is as the Bengals’ lead return man on kickoffs and punts.
Defensive end: Cassius Howell vs. Boye Mafe vs. Shemar Stewart vs. Myles Murphy
This will probably be the most interesting battle of training camp because each player has his own case to be a starter. Cassius Howell offers a hybrid outside linebacker-defensive end skill set and was just taken in the second round. The Bengals just gave Boye Mafe a lot of money. Shemar Stewart was taken with a first-round pick in last year’s draft, while Myles Murphy is trying to play himself into an extension.
I think the wild card is Murphy. He’s coming off a 28-tackle, 5.5-sack season in 2025 and has the motivation of a possible big payday in his future. If things don’t go according to plan with Mafe, Murphy could capitalize on the addition of Dexter Lawrence and have success in one-on-one matchups this upcoming season.
Continue reading...
