Zac Taylor Details Starter Playing Time, Latest Bengals Injury Update Ahead of 2026 Preseason Opener

Zac Taylor held his latest press conference on Tuesday morning after an indoor Bengals practice during training camp.

The biggest topic of the day is injury updates on a bevy of players across the defense. Names like Dax Hill and B.J. Hill got updates as both try to work back into practice.

Hill is still on the physically unable to perform list, but has increased his workload on the rehab field in recent days. Meanwhile, Dax Hill has missed three consecutive practices to go with no Tuesday action for Bryan Cook, Cashius Howell, Tacario Davis.

Injury and Starter Updates

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cashius Howell (55) speaks with players during training camp, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, at Paycor Stadium in Downtown Cincinnati. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Taylor dropped updates for all of those players below.

Tacario Davis and Cashius Howell: "I think that's why I'm a little limited right now, just on some guys that we're kind of limiting day to day and making decisions for on Thursday, so I'm not quick enough right now to say who's gonna be full go yet because there's just some guys that I just really want to manage through this week and we'll make some decisions if they're playing tomorrow or not.

"But those guys, there's nothing long-term on them. It's just we kind of get out there some days, decide for that day if we're gonna put them out there."

Dax Hill and Bryan Cook: "They will not play in this game, so we'll get them through the week and then see where that lands going into next week."

B.J. Hill and Shemar Stewart: "We won't put a timeline on them, but they're both progressing as we would hope that they would."

It's a lighter workweek of practice for Cincinnati. Tuesday is the only weekday practice session on the schedule, with Thursday's preseason opener on the docket against Detroit.

Taylor is eager to see what this expanded Bengals roster looks like in live game action. That includes the starters, who Taylor reaffirmed will play.

"The starters will play, but I'm not there yet on everybody," Taylor said. "Joe (Burrow) will play. Ja'Marr (Chase) and Tee (Higgins as well). Will kind of announce everything for tomorrow at some point.

"Limited series, so it won't be a ton of time ... (Fans are) going to see Joe and Ja'Marr and Tee. They're going to see Dexter (Lawrence). So they'll get a chance to enjoy some of our players there. But how long they keep them out there remains to be seen."

Cincinnati takes on the Lions at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday in Paycor Stadium.

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