Bengals' Defense Described as 'Ugly' Entering 2025 Season
Everyone knows that the Cincinnati Bengals have one of the best offensive trios in the entire NFL in Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. But their defense has been a bit of a talking point going into the season.
Advertisement
In a recent article by Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame, he lists what he thinks is the good, the bad, and the ugly from this offseason. In the category titled "the bad", he has the 2025 Bengals defense.
"All told, the Bengals have an offense capable of scoring 30 points per game," Verderame wrote. "That might not be enough based on the defensive depth chart and new coordinator Al Golden, who has no experience at his current position on the NFL level."
The Bengals drafted Shemar Stewart with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but they have still not signed him to his rookie deal. And that is just one of the team's problems on that side of the ball.
They have also not reached an agreement on a new contract with superstar edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, and it is seeming more and more likely that he will not be playing in Cincinnati in 2025. After failing to find a trade, the team also had to let go of star linebacker Germaine Pratt, who played a big role in 2024.
Advertisement
The Bengals have missed the playoffs each of the last two seasons, so the team's defense will be looking to do all they can to help the team make it back to the postseason.
Related: Mike Evans Reveals His Take on Bengals Star Ja'Marr Chase
Related: Bengals' Impressive Ranking Leaves One Major Question
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
3 minutes ago
- CNN
Eagles' Saquon Barkley says he's not part of Trump's sports council: ‘Definitely a little shocked when my name was mentioned'
Philadelphia Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley said Monday he was surprised to learn he had been named to the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition because he had turned down the opportunity earlier this year. Barkley is one of several top athletes who President Donald Trump named to the revamped council that the president unveiled at a White House event last week. When asked about his appointment on Monday, Barkley said he doesn't plan to participate. 'Couple months ago it was brought to my team about the council. So, I'm not really too familiar with it. I felt like I'm going to be super busy so, me and my family thought it was probably in the best interest to not accept that,' Barkley told reporters. 'So, was definitely a little shocked when my name was mentioned. I'm assuming it's something great, so I appreciate it, but was a little shocked my name was mentioned.' CNN has reached out to the White House for a response to Barkley's comments. Barkley and the president are on friendly terms. He was seen spending time with Trump a day before the team's scheduled visit to the White House to celebrate their recent Super Bowl victory. Trump approached the reporters assembled at the airport, saying about Barkley: 'What a nice guy.' He added: 'I wanted to race him, but I decided not to do it.' The pair later boarded Air Force One. In April, pictures on social media showed Barkley and Trump at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, with multiple 'Make America Great Again' hats sitting on the table. Barkley used social media to respond to criticism over his decision to meet and play golf with Trump. 'Lol some people are really upset cause I played golfed and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT,' he said on X. 'Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand. Just golfed with Obama not too long ago … and look forward to finishing my round with Trump! Now ya get out my mentions with all this politics and have amazing day.' The other athletes named by the White House as being appointed to the council include golfer Bryson DeChambeau, who will serve as chair; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, San Francisco 49ers defensive star Nick Bosa; Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker; and former college football player Cody Campbell, who is also the head of Texas Tech's Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) collective and has been a key voice contributing to Trump's policies on college sports. Other notable appointees are NFL commissioner Roger Goodell; hockey legend Wayne Gretzky; golfer Nelly Korda; WWE executive and professional wrestler Paul 'Triple H' Levesque; golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player; Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera; retired quarterback and current CBS NFL commentator Tony Romo; golfer Annika Sörenstam; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa; former New York Giants star Lawrence Taylor; and Florida Panthers player Matthew Tkachuk. Trump was joined by professional athletes on Thursday as he signed the order to expand his Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, which included reviving the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools. The event, which featured DeChambeau, Butker and Taylor, among others, comes as the US prepares to host the 2025 Ryder Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics — all of which are major feathers in Trump's cap for his second term. The president, who often boasts that he gets to oversee the milestone sporting events, has been heavily invested in making them a success. He has also used his bully pulpit to reshape cultural issues, many of which have been tied directly to sports, including new policies on transgender athletes and threatening the Washington Commanders football team to change its name back to the 'Redskins' or potentially face restrictions on a major stadium deal. This initiative seems to be an attempt to build on that momentum. The order formally reestablishes the Presidential Fitness Test, first introduced by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966, creating school-based programs that reward 'excellence in physical education' and developing criteria for a Presidential Fitness Award, according to details of the order obtained by CNN. The test, which will be administered by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., brings back the fitness challenge that permeated public schools and anointed children who received the highest scores with presidential recognition. Former President Barack Obama abandoned the test in 2012 and replaced it with an assessment called the FitnessGram, focused on bettering individual health. CNN's Alayna Treene and Ben Morse contributed to this report.
Associated Press
3 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley declines invitation to join Trump's sports council
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley has declined an invitation to join President Donald Trump's council on sports, fitness, and nutrition, which is being revitalized under an executive order that also reestablishes the Presidential Fitness Test for American children. Barkley, the 2,000-yard rusher for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, was on a list of sports personalities that included golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Nelly Korda, WWE executive Paul 'Triple H' Levesque, football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor and retired New York Yankees great Mariano Rivera. Barkley said Monday following Eagles' practice that he had actually declined the invitation. 'A couple months ago, it was brought to my team about the council,' Barkley said. 'So I'm not really too familiar with it. I felt like that I am going to be super busy. Me and my family thought it would probably be of best interest to not accept that. I was definitely a little shocked when my name was mentioned. I'm assuming it's something great, so I appreciate it but was a little shocked when my name was mentioned.' Trump last week reestablished the Presidential Fitness Test for American children, a fixture of public schools for decades that gauged young people's health and athleticism with 1-mile runs, sit-ups and stretching exercises. 'This is a wonderful tradition, and we're bringing it back,' Trump said of the fitness test that began in 1966 but was phased out during the Obama administration. The executive order also reinvigorated the national sports council that could have included Barkley. Barkley won AP Offensive Player of the Year last season after rushing for 2,005 yards, eighth-best in NFL history, in his first season with the Eagles. Barkley has golfed with Trump and former President Barack Obama over the last year and the running back attended the White House celebration of the champion Eagles while some teammates — notably star quarterback Jalen Hurts — skipped the ceremony. Barkley visited Trump in April at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and caught a ride with the president to Washington on Air Force One and then to the White House on Marine One. 'He loved it,' Trump said then of Barkley's short flight on the presidential airplane. 'He's a great young guy and an incredible football player. Saquon had a season for the ages, running behind the most powerful offensive line in the NFL.' Barkley, meanwhile, pushed back on social media criticism following the visit. He noted that he had already golfed with Obama, a Democrat. 'Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand,' Barkley posted on X. ___ AP sports:
Associated Press
3 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Louisiana-Monroe athletic director John Hartwell resigns
MONROE, La. (AP) — Louisiana-Monroe athletic director John Hartwell resigned on Monday after two years and six months on the job. An announcement made by the university said Hartwell, who was hired in February of 2023, will be 'pursuing other professional opportunities.' 'We appreciate what John has done for ULM Athletics over the last few seasons and wish him and his family all the best,' ULM President Dr. Carrie L. Castille said. 'There is a plan in place, and we will be making that plan known as soon as the logistics are finalized,' she added. 'My commitment to ULM Athletics and the Sun Belt Conference is unwavering, and we will continue to find ways to win on the field, on the court, in the community, and in the classroom.' ULM finished last in the Sun Belt Conference in men's basketball and baseball last season, and its 2024 football team went two games below .500. Hartwell said in a one-sentence statement that he was grateful for the support he'd received from 'student athletes, coaches, senior staff, donors, alumni, and all of Warhawk nation.' The university said it would announce an interim replacement for Hartwell soon.
