Cincinnati Bengals — 2026 season outlook, updated Aug 31, 2026.
Cincinnati Bengals finished the 2025 season 6-11 · Missed the playoffs.
Cincinnati Bengals: 6-11 regular season.
Based on verified play-by-play data (nflverse).
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2025 · Missed the playoffs
Where they rank — 2025
2026 schedule
- Bye week 6 — see all 2026 byes.
- 30th-hardest schedule — opponents average 7.97 projected wins.
- Bengals backfield and handcuffs — depth chart, refreshed daily.
Bengals players we cover
Bengals Camp — Aug 31: Stewart on the 53, Two Quarterbacks, Three Backs
The Bengals kept rookie edge Shemar Stewart on the initial 53 rather than a reserve list in his fifth week of knee rehab, a decision Bengals On SI's Russell Heltman read as leaving the door open for a first-month return. The roster behind that call, per the team's site: two quarterbacks, three running backs, and a cut list that included Josh Johnson after a 90.6 preseason passer rating and Charlie Jones two days after a 31-yard punt return. Dohnte Meyers, the Canadian Football League import, headlined the team's own roster feature.
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More episodes
- Camp · Aug 23, 2026
Bengals Camp — Aug 23: Lawrence Won His Extended Audition
Dexter Lawrence tipped a Caleb Williams screen to himself for an interception and controlled a full joint practice against the Bears, Joe Burrow went 16-of-25 with two red-zone touchdowns in the same session, and the backups won the game 27 to 9 behind Josh Johnson and rookies Colbie Young and Landon Robinson.
- Camp · Aug 16, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals Camp Update — August 16: Burrow Took 13 Snaps on the Repaired Foot
Joe Burrow took 13 snaps on the surgically repaired foot and went 5-of-6, Zac Taylor ran his starters out of the tunnel on purpose, and the rebuilt defense forced three takeaways to beat Detroit. Dexter Lawrence played only three snaps, so the front-travels question is still mostly open — but every input keeps pointing the right way.
- Camp · Aug 9, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals Camp Update — August 9: Dexter Lawrence Put Joe Burrow on the Ground Today
The traded-for nose tackle has spent two weeks terrorizing his own offense — Ted Karras calls August stressful and can't wait to pass him off to opposing centers. Burrow says the foot feels great. The bought bounce is doing exactly what it was bought to do, to its own teammates.
- 2026 Preview
Cincinnati Bengals 2026 Season Preview — The Bounce They Bought
Cincinnati's 6-and-11 came with no luck excuses — so the front office manufactured its own regression: a healthy Burrow, a top-10 pick traded for Dexter Lawrence, and the division's only intact coaching staff.
- Season Review
6-11 regular season
- Draft Recap
7 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft
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