Bengals, Zac Taylor Turning Heads With 'Toughest Camp' in Recent Memory

The Bengals are seemingly doing all the right things as they gear up for the season.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson, left, and Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, right, share a conversation during a joint training camp at the Kettering Health Practice Fields, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in downtown Cincinnati. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Cincinnati Bengals have had one of the more high-powered offenses in the league for the last few years, with Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase leading the charge. These two form one of the best offensive duos in the league, as they each have an argument as the best player at their position.

But the defense has been bullied for the last few years. They've been dominated, and it's held them back from getting back to the Super Bowl. Largely, they haven't been physical enough, which has led to them being one of the worst run defenses in football over the last few seasons.

But head coach Zac Taylor has taken a new approach to training camp. The Bengals are currently going through one of the more physical camps in recent memory.

Bengals Going Through Very Physical Training Camp

Cincinnati Bengals center Ted Karras (64) leads the linemen to the next session during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

“We've been grinding, and this has been, probably the toughest camp, Coach Taylor's run in my five years here, and I think we have the team that can handle that, and you know we're doing all the right things," offensive lineman Ted Karras said about the Bengals' camp so far. "So we still have a lot to work on. It's a good feeling that we have time, and we want to be as polished as we can going into week 1.”

A camp like this is what the Bengals need to get their defense moving in the right direction.

They added new personnel over the offseason, with additions like Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen expected to bolster the horrid run defense. Pair that with high-motor players like Cashius Howell and Boye Mafe, and the Bengals' defense has the pieces to be solid.

But they need to be a physical defense if they want to be a good defense.

Taylor's idea of running a tough camp with a lot of physicality and competition is exactly what the Bengals need. This is the blueprint for turning a defense around in one calendar year. Only time will tell if the Bengals have completely turned it around already. The addition of Lawrence and this increased physicality are two very promising signs.

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