Cincinnati Bengals News

AFC NORTH

Noah Fant • TE • Bengals

Saints Agree to Terms With Noah Fant on Two-Year Deal

The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms with free-agent tight end Noah Fant on an undisclosed two-year deal, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Fant will give the Saints some additional tight end depth behind Juwan Johnson, with both Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill (knee) being free agents. The 28-year-old former first-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2019 out of Iowa had a career-low 288 yards and three touchdowns on 34 receptions (41 targets) in 15 games (seven starts) in his lone season with the Cincinnati Bengals last year. Before that, Fant spent three years with the Seattle Seahawks, never topping 500 receiving yards or four touchdowns in his time there. His career-high of 673 receiving yards came in 2020 with Denver in his second year in the league. Unless Johnson misses time with an injury in 2026, Fant won't be a target in standard-sized 12-team fantasy leagues.

Yesterday

Jake Browning • QB • Bengals

Bengals Not Tendering Restricted Free Agent Jake Browning

The Cincinnati Bengals are not tendering restricted free agent quarterback Jake Browning, who will now reach free agency after three seasons with the team. Browning started seven games for the Bengals in 2023, going 4-3 while putting up respectable numbers and making himself a popular fantasy handcuff in dynasty leagues. When pressed into service in 2025, the results were less favorable: Browning went 0-3 across his three starts, throwing eight interceptions, and prompting the team to trade for a 40-year-old Joe Flacco. With Flacco also slated to hit free agency, Cincinnati is reportedly open to bringing Browning back, though they'll now allow him to test the market.

Yesterday

Joe Flacco • QB • Bengals

Joe Flacco Could Return to Bengals as Backup

Veteran free-agent quarterback Joe Flacco wants an opportunity to at least compete for a starting job somewhere in 2026. However, if he's forced to settle for backup work, Flacco would "strongly consider" returning to the Cincinnati Bengals to back up Joe Burrow, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The 41-year-old made his first Pro Bowl team in 2025 after initially beginning the season with the Cleveland Browns as their starter. Cincy traded for Flacco after Burrow went down with a turf-toe injury early in the season, and Flacco proceeded to pull more magic out of his hat by throwing for 1,664 yards, 13 touchdowns, and four interceptions in nine games (six starts) for the Bengals. He became a waiver-wire pickup in fantasy leagues for QB-needy managers and had some decent performances along the way. There don't appear to be any glaring options for Flacco to be handed another starting job, so the likelihood of him returning to Cincy could be pretty high.

2 days ago

Trey Hendrickson • DE • Bengals

Cowboys Expected to Turn Their Attention to Trey Hendrickson

The Dallas Cowboys thought they were close to a deal to acquire All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday night, but since then, other teams have raised the ante and potentially are offering the Raiders two first-round picks, according to Trey Wingo. As a result, the Cowboys are expected to shift their focus to Cincinnati Bengals impending free-agent defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip, pelvis). The Bengals didn't use another franchise tag on Hendrickson, so he will most likely walk in free agency after spending the last five years in Cincy. The 31-year-old veteran only played in seven games in 2025 due to hip/pelvis injuries that eventually led to core-muscle surgery. However, he will still be one of the top pass-rushers available in free agency after reaching 17.5 sacks in both 2023 and 2024. Hendrickson would help replace pass-rusher Micah Parsons, who was traded to the Packers last fall in exchange for two first-rounders and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

5 days ago

Trey Hendrickson • DE • Bengals

Trey Hendrickson Eyeing the Buccaneers?

Cincinnati Bengals impending free-agent pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson, who didn't receive the franchise tag from the Bengals, could be looking to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency. "I think that he would love to be in Tampa," Schefter said. "Tampa would be a great fit. I think in a perfect world, Trey would like to stay in Florida. No state income tax. But, he's also open to going to the best possible situation." The 31-year-old four-time Pro Bowler is unlikely to re-sign with the Bengals, making him one of the most attractive edge rushers on the open market this offseason, even though he only played in seven games last year and eventually required core-muscle surgery. Hendrickson was a first-team All-Pro in 2024 and had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024 for Cincy. He has 81 sacks in his nine NFL seasons and would be a tremendous pass-rush upgrade for Tampa.

6 days ago

Trey Hendrickson • DE • Bengals

Bengals Not Using the Franchise Tag on Trey Hendrickson

The Cincinnati Bengals are not using the franchise tag on star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson (hip, pelvis) at the deadline on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Hendrickson, a four-time Pro Bowler from 2021 to 2024, only played in seven games in 2025 due to hip/pelvis injuries, and he eventually had core-muscle surgery in December. In his seven games last year, Hendrickson recorded only 16 tackles (11 solo), four sacks, and eight QB hits. He has 81 total sacks in his nine NFL seasons, though, and had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons for the Bengals in 2023 and 2024. The 31-year-old former third-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2017 out of Florida Atlantic is coming off an injury-plagued season, but he'll immediately become one of the best pass-rushers available in free agency. Hendrickson should be fully recovered from offseason surgery and ready to go in Week 1.

7 days ago

Dalton Risner • G • Bengals

Bengals, Dalton Risner Agree to New Extension

The Cincinnati Bengals and offensive guard Dalton Risner agreed to a new, undisclosed contract extension on Monday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Risner started 11 games for the Bengals last season and fit in perfectly on their offensive line. Getting him back in the fold for 2026 and beyond was a priority for Cincy this offseason, and now it's done. The 30-year-old former second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2019 out of Kansas State spent the first four years of his NFL career in Denver before playing with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023 and 2024. Risner has started 92 of the 101 games he's appeared in over his seven NFL seasons. He started 11 of the 14 games he was active for in 2025 with the Bengals. Risner's return is ultimately good news for Cincy's offense as they look to return to the postseason this fall.

Mar 2

Trey Hendrickson • DE • Bengals

Bengals Not Ruling Out Trey Hendrickson Returning

Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said on Sirius XM NFL Radio this week that he wouldn't rule out the return of All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson. "I never will rule out any possibility," Tobin said. "He's a good football player. So, is there a chance he'll be with us? We're in the business of good football players, so I can't rule it out. But I don't know what the future holds." If the Bengals were to place the franchise tag on Hendrickson, it would cost north of $30 million with a salary cap hit of $36.7 million. A tag-and-trade scenario will be difficult, so if the two sides cannot work out an extension, the most likely scenario is that the Bengals just let Hendrickson walk in free agency. The 31-year-old had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024, but he had just four sacks in seven games last year while ending the season on Injured Reserve due to a core-muscle injury. If Hendrickson reaches the open market, he'll be one of the top edge rushers available.

Feb 26

Chase Brown • RB • Bengals

Is Chase Brown Emerging as a High-End Dynasty Asset?

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown still has one year left on his rookie contract and is hopeful to sign an extension that his representation has been working on since at least late January. Brown stands unchallenged atop the Bengals' running back depth chart, playing in all 17 games in the 2025 season with an average rush share of 70%. While his rushing touches are important, Brown sets himself apart from his peers and is a valuable dynasty asset because of his involvement in Cincinnati's passing game. With quarterback Joe Burrow at the helm from Weeks 13-17, Brown hauled in 25 of his 26 targets and scored three touchdowns through the air. Brown is a young, proven back and, despite some low-scoring weeks early in the 2025 season, earned fantasy managers over 15 PPR points in every game from Weeks 8 through 18. His consistency and potential for RB1 weeks make him a valuable dynasty piece to target in trades or during start-up drafts.

Feb 24

Ja'Marr Chase • WR • Bengals

Ja'Marr Chase Still a Top Fantasy Receiver for 2026 and Beyond

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had another strong season in 2025. While he wasn't able to replicate his WR1 finish from 2024, he still had a big year with 125 catches, 1,412 yards, and eight touchdowns across 16 games. He was the WR4 in PPR leagues, extending his streak to five consecutive finishes within the top 12. It was impressive to see Chase thrive even without Joe Burrow throwing him passes for the whole season. He spent plenty of games with Joe Flacco and Jake Browning, which limited his upside on a week-by-week basis. That partial-season quarterback downgrade is likely why Chase only scored eight touchdowns, relative to his 17 from the year before. Burrow's health is never a guarantee, but if the quarterback can stay healthy for most of 2026, Chase and fellow receiver Tee Higgins should both benefit. He's still a top-three receiver with overall WR1 upside in both redraft and dynasty leagues. If there's ever a time to get him at a slight discount in dynasty trades, it might be now.

Feb 22

Samaje Perine • RB • Bengals

Samaje Perine's Fantasy Upside Remains Limited Across All Formats

Across 15 games in 2025, Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine recorded 469 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on 101 touches. The veteran back has established himself as a quality pass-blocker and capable RB2 over the course of his nine-year NFL career. That's the role Perine played alongside Bengals RB1 Chase Brown in 2025, and with both backs under contract for 2026, Cincinnati appears likely to run it back next season. Without an injury to Brown, Perine carries limited fantasy upside. Even if Brown were to miss time, it's possible the Bengals would look to bring in a more dynamic rusher and keep Perine in a secondary role. While Perine has recorded at least 400 scrimmage yards in five straight seasons, he hasn't topped the 700-yard mark since his rookie year in 2017 and has logged just 19 touchdowns in 125 career NFL games. Perine's fantasy ceiling is uninspiring as he hits the late stages of his career.

Feb 21

Tahj Brooks • RB • Bengals

Tahj Brooks Appears Blocked Off from Playing Time in Cincinnati

A sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cincinnati Bengals running back Tahj Brooks played a minimal role on offense in his first professional season. Across 16 games, the 23-year-old recorded just 54 yards from scrimmage on 17 total touches. Bengals running back Chase Brown has logged nearly 600 touches over the past two seasons combined and is locked in as the RB1 in Cincinnati for at least 2026, blocking Brooks off from significant playing time. The Bengals also have steady veteran back Samaje Perine under contract for the 2026 season. Perine recorded 469 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns across 15 games with Cincinnati in 2025, and his reputation as a solid pass blocker and receiver should keep him secure in the team's third-down role. Post 2026, Brooks could have a pathway to more playing time in Cincinnati. However, it appears unlikely that he will have a chance to prove himself in the short term, barring an injury to Brown or Perine. Brooks' value in dynasty formats should be trending downward after his quiet rookie campaign.

Feb 20

Joe Flacco • QB • Bengals

Where is the Most Valuable Landing Spot for Joe Flacco?

After starting games for both the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals in 2025, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco enters 2026 as an unrestricted free agent. The 2008 first-round draft pick, who has now started for six different teams, recently turned 41, but he has no plans to retire anytime soon. While a handful of teams could be in the market for a bridge quarterback when free agency opens in March, Flacco will likely find more suitors as one of the most reliable backups in the league. He has expressed a willingness to resign with Cincinnati to play behind Joe Burrow, which, outside of a starting role, might be his most valuable landing spot from a fantasy perspective. Flacco finished as a QB1 in four of his six starts with the Bengals, including a stretch of three straight weeks inside the top five, while Burrow has missed meaningful time in three of his first six seasons. As such, Flacco is worth holding through the offseason in superflex dynasty leagues.

Feb 19

Mike Gesicki • TE • Bengals

Mike Gesicki a Fading Dynasty-League Veteran

Following a 65-reception, 665-yard campaign in his first year with the Bengals, tight end Mike Gesicki signed a three-year extension before the 2025 season. Missing parts of five games with a pectoral injury, the 30-year-old vet turned in his second-lowest yardage total since his rookie season, topping seven Half-PPR points only twice. With a relatively low-cost out to his existing contract, Gesicki could find himself as an offseason or training camp cut, but regardless of where he lands in 2026, his best fantasy days look to be safely behind him. Since his TE11 finish with Miami in 2021, he's seen fantasy finishes of TE23, TE37, TE14, and TE40, and he can be treated as a cut candidate as dynasty managers make space for the incoming rookie class.

Feb 19

Trey Hendrickson • DE • Bengals

Bengals to Gauge Trey Hendrickson's Market at Scouting Combine

The Cincinnati Bengals plan to gather information about impending free-agent defensive end Trey Hendrickson's market at the NFL scouting combine in late February in Indianapolis, according to Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer. It seems likely that Hendrickson will end up walking in free agency, but there is also a possibility that Cincy looks to place the franchise tag on the 31-year-old veteran and then attempt to trade him. That scenario is unlikely, especially since Hendrickson played in only seven games in 2025 and ended the year on Injured Reserve with a hip/pelvis injury that required core-muscle surgery. The Bengals used the franchise tag on him last year, so tagging him a second straight season would cost them $30.2 milion in 2026. Despite his injury, Hendrickson will have plenty of suitors if he makes it to the open market after having back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024.

Feb 17

Tee Higgins • WR • Bengals

Tee Higgins Continues to Thrive in No. 2 Role

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins continues to be a productive fantasy option, and he posted a new career-best finish as the overall WR15 in PPR leagues in 2025. Despite missing two games, Higgins exploded for 59 catches, 846 yards, and a career-high 11 touchdowns. It has been really encouraging to see the former second-round pick get more looks in the end zone. He has set a new career-high in touchdowns in each of the last two seasons, and during that two-year window, he has scored a total of 21 times. Some people might say that Higgins benefits from facing teams' No. 2 cornerbacks (because their top options cover Ja'Marr Chase), but that's a hard argument to make given that Higgins has also excelled in games that Chase has missed. There's a bit of an injury risk with Higgins, who had two concussions during the back half of the 2025 season, but his ceiling and floor both remain quite high. He's worth drafting as a high-end WR2 in 2026 fantasy drafts, and he's worth holding in dynasty leagues.

Feb 17

Trey Hendrickson • DE • Bengals

Colts to be Aggressive in Pursuit of Trey Hendrickson?

A Cincinnati Bengals team source told NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe that it seems inevitable that All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip, pelvis) will leave this offseason. The Bengals could either let Hendrickson walk in free agency or slap the franchise tag on him and try to trade him. Wolfe says to keep an eye on the Indianapolis Colts. Indy wants to be aggressive, and they made the splash move to acquire cornerback Sauce Gardner from the Jets last season. Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and defensive-line coach Marion Hobby both have familiarity with Hendrickson from their time as coaches in Cincy for four-plus seasons. The 31-year-old pass-rusher had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024 but played only seven games in 2025 due to hip/pelvis injuries. Hendrickson would immediately make Indy's pass rush more formidable if he were to join them in free agency or via trade.

Feb 13

Joe Burrow • QB • Bengals

Bengals Not Looking to Trade Joe Burrow

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said over the weekend that the Cincinnati Bengals won't entertain trade offers for quarterback Joe Burrow this offseason and will instead look to spend and build around him. Rapoport expects teams to call the Bengals after Burrow expressed some discontent with the organization during the 2025 season, but the franchise signal-caller is not expected to go anywhere. More than anything, the Bengals will probably spend on the defensive side of the ball to help supplement what is already a strong offensive unit. The 29-year-old Burrow only made eight starts in 2025 due to a turf toe injury that required surgery, and he threw for 1,809 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Staying healthy has been an issue for the former No. 1 overall pick, but with one of the best receiving duos in the NFL, Burrow should be primed for a bounce-back campaign in 2026 as a QB1 in fantasy if he can stay on the field.

Feb 9

Trey Hendrickson • DE • Bengals

Trey Hendrickson Unlikely to Return to Bengals?

The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that there's "little reason to believe" that star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson (hip, pelvis) "will willingly return to Cincinnati." It also doesn't make much financial sense for the Bengals to spend the majority of their free-agent budget to force Hendrickson to come back. The 31-year-old, who had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024, is coming off an injury that required surgery and turns 32 in December. Other factors working against him are the fact that there is a solid draft class and free-agent market at edge rusher. Still, Hendrickson's compensation on the open market this offseason would likely start at or near the $29 million he made in 2026. The Bengals are unlikely to entertain a multi-year deal, so the only way to retain him would be via the franchise tag, which would cost $30.2 million for one year. There is also a tag-and-trade scenario, but the most likely outcome is the Bengals letting Hendrickson walk in free agency.

Feb 4

Chase Brown • RB • Bengals

Chase Brown Working on Extension With Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown said his representation is in talks with the team about a new long-term contract extension, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Brown, 25, is eligible for an extension after completing his third year in the NFL in 2025. "I would love to do something and be a part of this team," Brown said. "I don't want to go anywhere else." The 25-year-old finished 11th in the NFL last year with a team-high 1,456 scrimmage yards. He was also sixth among all RBs with 437 receiving yards, and he had his first 1,000-rushing campaign (1,019 yards). Given all of the other financial commitments to key players on the offensive side of the ball in Cincy, and the fact that the Bengals' defense needs a lot of help, it remains to be seen if the Bengals will extend Brown going into the final year of his deal. Regardless of his contract going into the 2026 season, Brown should at least be viewed as a low-end RB1 target as the team's No. 1 backfield option in a high-scoring offense.

Jan 29

Cincinnati Bengals News

LEGEND