Different year, same draft priorities for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Director of player personnel Duke Tobin, coach Zac Taylor and their staffs will continue to look at ways to upgrade a defense that was 31st in the league last season, including last against the run and tied for 22nd in sacks.

The only area the defense excelled in during Al Golden's first year as coordinator was missed tackles. Their 171 missed tackles was the most by any team since the statistic was first tracked in 2007.

The Bengals signed edge rusher Boye Mafe, safety Bryan Cook and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen at the start of free agency, but need to start hitting on some of their draft picks.

You always have to be flexible in terms of the positions. The draft is a big chance for us to really hit on guys that can be long-term contributors for us, Tobin said during the NFL scouting combine in February.

The Bengals have eight picks, including the 10th overall selection in the first round. They dont have any in the fifth round but two each in the sixth and seventh rounds.

Pass rushers, linebacker and cornerback. The Bengals got a preview of life without Trey Hendrickson last season after he played in only seven games and had four sacks. Mafe has potential as a pass rusher, but had only two sacks last season, and Shemar Stewart, last year's first-round pick, had a disappointing rookie season because of injuries. Miami's Rueben Bain would be a perfect option if he was available. The linebacker group is young after rookies Demetrius Knight Jr. (second round) and Barrett Carter (fourth round) were pressed into duty last season. Ohio State's Sonny Styles continues to ascend up draft boards. With Dax Hill and DJ Turner in the final year of their contracts, Golden could use a young cornerback, especially one that excels at covering slot receivers. LSU's Mansoor Delane would be a nice fit.

While defense is at the top of the priorities list, the Bengals will also be on the hunt for help on the offensive line. The primary need is for a swing tackle that can help bolster a unit that was near the bottom in pass block win rate last season according to metrics by Pro Football Focus and ESPN.

Don't be surprised if the Bengals look for a wide receiver, especially if Ohio State's Carnell Tate drops to the 10th pick. Even though the Bengals have one of the top two receiver duos in the league with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the group is thin after that. They are also lacking a slot receiver that could help take pressure off Chase and Higgins late in games.

A quarterback. The Bengals are one of the top teams in the league when Joe Burrow is on the field, but with three major injuries in six seasons including a toe injury that caused him to miss nine games last season keeping him healthy continues to be a concern. Joe Flacco did re-sign to be Burrow's backup after he was acquired from Cleveland.

The Bengals have signed free agent safety Kyle Dugger to a one-year contract.

Dugger, who played college ball at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne, was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft. During his first four seasons in New England, Dugger recorded nine interceptions, two of which were pick-sixes, and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

He was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers at the trade deadline last season, recording another pick-six and 42 total tackles, including two tackles for loss.

Throughout his career, the 30-year-old has had 27 tackles for loss, 29 passes defended and three forced fumbles in 78 starts.

In addition to Dugger, Cincinnati signed cornerback Ja'Sir Taylor to a one-year contract. He spent 57 games with the Chargers before being traded to the Jets at the trade deadline last season. In 65 regular-season games, Taylor has recorded 76 tackles, 14 passes defended, one interception and one fumble recovery.

The two signings show the Bengals' continued effort to bolster a defense that struggled last season under first-year coordinator Al Golden. Cincinnati previously signed safety Bryan Cook, EDGE Boye Mafe and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.

Joe Flacco is staying in Cincinnati!

The Cincinnati Bengals announced the veteran quarterback has agreed to a 1-year deal with the Bengals.

Acquired in a trade with Cleveland last October, Flacco was rushed into the Bengals' starting role after Cincinnati's three-game losing streak with backup quarterback Jake Browning following starter Joe Burrow's turf toe injury.

While the defensive side of the ball struggled throughout the season, the offense led by Flacco was able to find success in Burrow's absence, even while he dealt with an injury to his throwing shoulder.

Flacco finished the year tied second in the NFL in completions and third in passing touchdowns. He had 2,479 yards and 15 touchdowns in 13 total games.

The 41-year-old was named a Pro Bowler for the first time in his career this past January, playing with Burrow and receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

With Browning singing a deal with Tampa Bay this offseason, Flacco and 39-year-old Josh Johnson will be fighting for the backup spot behind a healthy Burrow.

The Cincinnati Bengals are keeping OT Orlando Brown Jr. around for a bit, the team announced Thursday.

The Bengals extended Brown through the 2027 season.

Brown will be a ninth-year player this season and has started in all 45 games he played as a Bengal.

The Bengals initially signed Brown during free agency in 2023 just after Brown, who is a four-time Pro Bowler, protected Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl 57.

When the Bengals initially signed him, Brown said he was thankful to join the team.

"I'm so thankful and appreciative to be able to have the opportunity to play left tackle for a franchise like this, to be able to block for a guy like Joe Burrow, to be able to play in a system like this," Brown told reporters. "It's truly something special and I'm super excited for the opportunity."

The Baltimore Ravens have signed defensive end Trey Hendrickson to a four-year deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter first tweeted the deal Wednesday morning.

According to Schefter, the four-year deal is a $112 million contract with incentives that could be worth up to $120 million.

The move means Hendrickson will stay in the AFC North and will take the field against the Cincinnati Bengals twice a season.

In March, Hendrickson became an unrestricted free agent after the Bengals declined to give him the franchise tag.

Before the 2026 season, Hendrickson was a holdout and worked with the Bengals to finalize an extension to keep him in Cincinnati. In August, the team gave Hendrickson a $14 million raise for the 2025 season, with plans for him to become a free agent afterward.

Hendrickson was already under contract through the 2025 season, but both he and Bengals owner Mike Brown have stated that he's worth more after a league-leading season.

The 31-year-old defensive end only played seven games during the 2026 season due to a hip injury before he underwent core muscle surgery in December. In those seven games, he only accrued 16 tackles, including four sacks, one pass defended and one forced fumble.

Hendrickson has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons with Cincinnati before he dealt with injuries, with the First-Team All-Pro collecting 19 tackles and 17.5 sacks in the 2024 season.

The Bengals are clearly focusing on their defense this offseason, as reports say Cincinnati nabbed defensive tackle Jonathan Allen on Thursday.

Allen, who was released by the Vikings, agreed to a two-year deal with the Bengals, according to multiple reports. The two-time Pro Bowler spent the majority of his career in D.C. before going to Minnesota last season.

The 30-year-old started in all 17 games last season, finishing with 3.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits and 68 total tackles including 7 tackles for loss.

His announcement comes after the Bengals introduced new signings Bryan Cook and Boye Mafe.

Former UC safety Cook, a 2017 Mount Healthy graduate, signed a three-year deal with his hometown team, as first reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft, Cook helped Kansas City to three Super Bowl appearances two of which he played in (he was on injured reserve when the Chiefs beat the 49ers in Super Bowl 58). He finished last season with six passes defended and 85 total tackles.

Cook is the highest-drafted player in Mount Healthy history and part of the Bearcats' record-breaking draft class that included Sauce Gardner, Alec Pierce, Desmond Ridder, Coby Bryant, Jerome Ford and more.

WCPO has covered his story since high school, where he only received one scholarship offer from Howard University. Five years and a transfer later, Cook was named Third-Team All-American and given the opportunity to showcase his talents on a national stage.

Now, with two Super Bowl rings on his finger, Cook can return home and help lead a young defense in need of leadership.

After signing Cook, Boye Mafe's agent, Mike McCartney, announced that the former Seahawks linebacker had also agreed to a three-year deal with Cincinnati.

The Super Bowl LX winner was drafted 40th overall by Seattle in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. During the 2025 season, Mafe recorded 11 solo tackles, 20 assisted tackles and 2 sacks. Mafe had his best season so far in 2023 when he collected 35 solo tackles, 17 assisted tackles and 9 sacks.

The Bengals' move with Mafe came before Trey Hendrickson signed with division rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. Joseph Ossai also recently signed with the Jets.

The Cincinnati Bengal best known for stepping in when Quarterback Joe Burrow was out with an injury could be leaving the team, ESPN reported Monday morning.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Monday morning that the Bengals are not tendering Browning for another contract. That means Browning will become a free agent, though Fowler reported the Bengals are "open to bringing him back."

The Bengals and Browning signed a two-year contract in 2024 that is set to expire.

The Bengals are not tendering RFA quarterback Jake Browning, who started 10 games over three seasons for Cincinnati in relief of Joe Burrow. He will be a free agent. Cincinnati is open to bringing him back.

Browning, who graduated from the University of Washington, was originally signed to the Bengals' practice squad ahead of the 2021 season but he quickly gained recognition when he started seven games in the 2023 season following QB Joe Burrow's season-ending wrist injury.

Browning stepped in once again after Burrow's turf toe injury during the 2025 season took the quarterback out again for the remainder of the season.

However, the Bengals sidelined Browning during the season when they negotiated a trade with the Cleveland Browns for Joe Flacco, who then took the starting quarterback position during Burrow's recovery.

Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson is now a free agent.

The Bengals aren't giving Hendrickson the franchise tag, according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter. Each NFL team is granted the option to tag one player with an expiring contract, which allows the team to keep them for one more season. Tuesday at 4 p.m. is the deadline for teams to announce if they're tagging a player.

Schefter said the decision means Hendrickson is now an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Before the 2026 season, Hendrickson was a holdout and worked with the Bengals to finalize an extension to keep him in Cincinnati. In August, the team gave Hendrickson a $14 million raise for the 2025 season, with plans for him to become a free agent afterward.

Hendrickson was already under contract through the 2025 season, but both he and Bengals owner Mike Brown have stated that he's worth more after a league-leading season.

The 31-year-old defensive end only played seven games during the 2026 season due to a hip injury before he underwent core muscle surgery in December. In those seven games, he only accrued 16 tackles, including four sacks, one pass defended and one forced fumble.

Hendrickson has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons with Cincinnati before he dealt with injuries, with the First-Team All-Pro collecting 19 tackles and 17.5 sacks in the 2024 season.

Other than Hendrickson, the Bengals will put their faith in Myles Murphy, who was selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. Murphy played a larger role with the team after Hendrickson was injured last season, having six tackles and 5.5 sacks with the Bengals' defense that was ranked near the bottom of the league.

Dalton Risner will remain a Bengal next season.

Cincinnati announced Monday it is re-signing Risner, considered one of the team's best offensive linemen, to a one-year contract for the 2026 season.

Risner joined the Bengals late last offseason after head coach Zac Taylor announced in August that guard Cordell Volson would be out for the year with a shoulder injury.

The 30-year-old immediately jumped into action, playing in 14 games, 11 of which he started.

"Dalton is a critical part of our team, critical part of our offensive line," Taylor said in announcing Risner's re-signing. "A guy that showed up a week before the season started, played over half of that game and continued to play at a high level all season for us."

This will be Risner's eighth NFL season. A second-round pick for the Broncos in 2019, he spent four seasons as a starter in Denver before going to Minnesota, where he started in 19 games over the course of two years.

"I just feel like I'm full of gratitude ... just so many people including the fanbase, (the media), the city, the restaurant Jeff Ruby's. I could go on and on about every reason why I wanted to come back and about how you guys have welcomed me with open arms."

Risner said despite the difficulty of last season, he was always clear about wanting to be a Bengal next season.

"This process was just so much different, because I've never felt this way about an organization," Risner said. "I've never truly just wanted to be back and not even test my market. I'm at the point of my career where this is where I'm going to be my best with (offensive line coach) Scott Peters and Joe Burrow and Ted Karras and Amarius Mims."

The Bengals ranked 28th overall out of the 32 teams in the NFL on the 2026 NFL Players Association's (NFLPA) team report cards, according to ESPN.

The NFL won a grievance earlier this year that prevented the NFLPA from releasing the report card. Still, ESPN obtained the results, which grade teams A+ through F- on various categories, such as training staff, weight room quality and the treatment of families.

According to ESPN, this year's report cards are based on responses from 1,759 players.

The Bengals' overall ranking dropped this year. In 2025, the team was ranked 24th.

Head coach Zac Taylor was once again among the highest-ranked coaches, but his grade fell slightly from 2025. While last year Taylor received an "A", this year he fell to an "A-".

Owner Mike Brown also received a lower grade this year. Team ownership was given a "D+" in 2026 as compared to 2025's "C".

Another category that fell from 2025 was the Food/Dining Area. In 2025, that section received an "F" and fell to an "F-" this time around.

In one of the brand-new categories on this year's report card, called "Home Game Field," Paycor Stadium received a "D-".

Defensive coordinator Al Golden was given a "B+" for his first season in the role.

The Bengals did not score an "A+" in any category this year. The highest grade was an "A" for strength coaches.

ESPN said all players on a 2025 roster at the time the survey was conducted (Nov. 2 through Dec. 11) were eligible to participate in responding.

Here's the full breakdown of the Bengals 2026 report card:

Here's where the Bengals landed in 2025:

Last year, Ohio lawmakers pledged hundreds of millions of dollars for sports and cultural facility grants to be used from the state's unclaimed funds. Ohio has already said it would set aside $1 billion in grant money, with the first $600 million to go to the Cleveland Browns for the team's new stadium in Brook Park. Now, other teams and organizations want their share.

The Ohio Sports Facility Grant Program is offering organizations the opportunity to apply for funds totaling up to 25% of a project's expected cost, with a cap of $250 million.

Through a public records request, our partners at WEWS in Cleveland received a list of teams, organizations and counties that applied for those grants. Now, we know how much each sports team or organization has requested from the state.

Here's the breakdown:

Additionally, there was an applicant from Massachusetts, but we did not list it because it doesn't meet the requirements of the grant program.

Jarboe previously reported that, to get a grant, applicants must show that their projects will benefit the state by generating tax revenue, meeting or exceeding the grant amount applied for.

Unclaimed funds pushback

Not everyone is happy about unclaimed funds being used. Last week, News 5 reported that a woman had a life insurance check sitting in the pot for decades and only learned about it when state lawmakers moved to use unclaimed funds to help the Browns.

WATCH:

RELATED: She's had unclaimed funds for decades. She had no idea until the Browns stadium came along.

Former Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Willie Anderson, a 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist, announced on social media Friday night he is scheduled to have a kidney transplant March 3 in Atlanta.

I never wanted everyone calling me feeling sorry for me, Anderson wrote in a social media caption on a video announcing the news. I want to give happy news. Please listen! And I hope this helps the next athlete.

Anderson, 50, said he was diagnosed with kidney disease about 10 years ago. He said he was diagnosed with high blood pressure at 38 or 39 years old. He was 40 years old when he found about his kidney.

I thought I had it kind of under control for a while, Anderson said. Once my numbers reached down to a certain point. But, over the last two years my numbers got significantly worse.

Last summer, Anderson went to Duke University and went on the transplant list there and at Emory University. Family and friends attempted to become a donor match.

My girl wanted to check and see for herself, Anderson said. She was a perfect match. Crazy. Never in a million years did I think that one I would be in this position of needing a kidney and going through a transplant. Two, I never thought someone this close to me in this aspect would be the one that I would get a kidney from.

Anderson, a Bengals Ring of Honor member, said he is grateful for the support and prayers along with Gods guidance in his life. Anderson is looking forward to coaching again and training high school football players at the Willie Anderson Lineman Academy.

Anderson was a four-time Pro Bowl player and three-time All-Pro selection from 1996 to 2008. He has been a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist for five consecutive years in the Modern-Era Players category.

Anderson was selected No. 10 overall in the 1996 NFL Draft by the Bengals. He played in 195 games, starting 184 of those contests. He surrendered just 16 sacks.

An All-American from Auburn University, Anderson said he would be grateful to wear a gold jacket on the steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton one day. Anderson was a modern-era player finalist for a fifth consecutive year this month.

Ill be so happy more for the fans of the Bengals, Anderson told WCPO 9 Sports in February 2025. Because the Bengals fans we all know were long-suffering in everything. I dont believe I get pushed forward as much as a finalist if our fans werent out there fighting for me. And finding stats and finding awards and doing things for me.

Want to know what Ja'Marr Chase is up to off the field? This spring, you'll get the chance to learn more about Cincinnati's top receiver as he premieres his new podcast with Overtime.

Chase announced "Chasing No. 1" Wednesday while doing press after this year's Pro Bowl Games, where he was selected a starter for the fifth consecutive year.

"You know I can cut, catch and make big plays, but I really haven't had a chance to show you who I really am Ja'Marr Chase," he said in his announcement.

The podcast's title not only recognizes Chase's name and number, but the "No. 1" is also pronounced as "no one" because Chase is, in his own words, "one of one."

"Although I strive for greatness, I'm chasing no one," the 25-year-old said.

In an interview on FanDuel TV's "Up & Adams," Chase said teammate and close friend Tee Higgins will be starring in it alongside him.

"Why not have ... one of my best friends do it with me?" Chase said.

He said they'll talk about sports, pop culture, fashion and even their hobbies off the field. Higgins told Adams he was excited to show people more than just their football skills.

"Just show people a different side of us that people don't get to see every day," Higgins said. "All they see of us is us behind our helmets ... now we get to show people what we're into off the field and things of that nature."

Higgins said the two of them have been brothers since Chase first arrived in Cincinnati.

"Once we met, we just clicked, like that, right away," Higgins said.

There's no word on the exact date the podcast drops, but we're sure Chase will continue to post about it as it nears.

One of the Bengals' most vocal celebrity fans appears to have had it with owner Mike Brown.

Nick Lachey, a Cincinnati native who first rose to prominence as a member of 98 Degrees alongside his brother, Drew, has frequently spoken about his support for (and sometimes disappointment with) the Bengals.

Earlier this season, the "Love Is Blind" host called Brown's decision to keep both head coach Zac Taylor and director of player personnel Duke Tobin despite their 6-11 record "a slap in the face to all fans."

"This ownership doesnt care. They dont care about you, they dont care about me, and they dont care about the city of Cincinnati which we all love dearly," Lachey said on social media, calling Brown "too cheap" to build a better team around superstars Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Now, he's put his complaints into song. Lachey put out a new song on his YouTube page called "Sell 'Em Mike Brown," interpolating the hit Rose Royce song "I'm Going Down," to tell Cincinnati's owner to leave the team.

"Sell 'em, Mike Brown. Stop playing a clown," Lachey sings in the chorus. "Quit bringing my Bengals down."

The 52-year-old then evokes the names of two of the Bengals' most famous quarterbacks, singing, "In the name of Joe Burrow, won't you take your billions and go," and "I've got Boomer on the phone, he wants you to leave Cincinnati alone."

Lachey shared the song with the caption, "To all my fellow (Bengals) fans... we've suffered long enough. Introducing 'Sell 'Em Mike Brown.'"

You can listen to the song here:

A trio of Bengals will be participating in the Pro Bowl this year.

The Bengals announced Friday that quarterback Joe Flacco has been added to the AFC roster for the Pro Bowl Games, which will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 3. He'll join teammates Ja'Marr Chase, who was named a starter earlier this month, and Tee Higgins, who was also named to the roster this week.

This marks the first time in both Flacco and Higgins' careers that they've been selected to the Pro Bowl.

Flacco, who made his first Bengals start in Week 6, finished the year tied second in the NFL in completions and third in passing touchdowns. He had 2,479 yards, and 15 touchdowns in 13 total games and 10 starts.

Higgins finished this season with 59 catches for 849 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns. He had four straight games with at least one touchdown catch this season in Weeks 7-11. Originally named a second alternate, Higgins will replace Ravens receiver Zay Flowers.

For his part, Chase finished the season with 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns. This is his fifth Pro Bowl appearance. He was also named to First-Team All-Pro for the second straight season.

This is the first time two Bengals receivers have been named to the Pro Bowl in the same season since Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh were selected in 2007.

You can watch the Pro Bowl Games on ESPN starting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3.

Just two months after Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt was cited for reckless driving and driving without a license in Cincinnati, Covington officers responded to a rollover crash involving his vehicle.

Video obtained by WCPO 9 shows a Jeep belonging to Taylor-Britt traveling near the intersection of Scott Street and 4th Street before crashing into a parked car, flipping upside down early in the morning on Saturday, Nov. 15. The cars move out of frame, but within minutes, people can be seen walking up to the scene.

"They're out the car they're good, they're good," one woman yells to another.

Then, one woman points off to the side and says, "I think that's the guy, though." Another person responds, "It was. He just fled the scene."

WATCH: You can see the footage of the crash below

Body camera footage shows officers arrive at the scene and remark that no one is in the car "they all fled, I guess," one officer says.

Then, a man who identifies himself as Taylor-Britt's brother, walks up to the scene. He tells officers it's his brother's car, but that Taylor-Britt was not in it.

"I had a female in it she was drunk driving, and this happened," the man said.

He told officers the woman, whom he met at a club, ran off, and he tried to run after her, which is why he left the scene. He then tells them he was in the passenger seat.

However, a witness told officers she saw Booker and another man get inside a white car that took off from the scene. Additionally, the officers note how far back the driver's seat was.

"The girl's supposed to be 5-foot-4 driving that car with that seat all the way back," one officer says to another. "Ain't no way. A dude was driving it. The football player was driving it."

When the officer asks the man where Taylor-Britt is, he responds that he's at home.

"He has a game Sunday, so," he said.

The Bengals played the Steelers in Pittsburgh the following day, where Taylor-Britt suffered a season-ending injury.

In another officer's body camera footage, which is almost completely blacked out, the officer can be heard at Taylor-Britt's home as the cornerback appeared to be talking on the phone with his mother.

"The fking car is flipped over," Taylor-Britt says.

When the woman asks if he was in the car, he responds, "Yes, I was, but nobody (was) injured in the car."

The officer asks if Taylor-Britt is hurt, remarking that he has blood on his shoulder. Taylor-Britt said he's fine.

When Taylor-Britt is asked if he has his driver's license, he responds, "not on me," saying his attorney was just in court "figuring that out."

Officers asked Taylor-Britt who was driving and who took him away from the scene. The Bengal said his brother was driving the car, and people who were with them at a club and following them home grabbed him when they saw what happened.

When officers tell Taylor-Britt that his story does not match up with his brother's, he calls Booker, who repeats his story on the phone.

"Fabo, let's keep it gangster, brother, because now it sounds like a bunch of whatchacallit going on ... I did give a story to them that you were driving and they're confused now," Taylor-Britt said.

He then tells his brother, "better lock in."

When he asks him again who the driver was, the man responds, "Me."

He then tells an officer at the scene that he was driving and reached for a phone from a woman who was in the passenger seat, taking his eye off the road and losing control, crashing into the parked car.

At Taylor-Britt's home, officers ask when he leaves for his game "Tomorrow, two o'clock," Taylor Britt said.

"You gonna beat 'em or what?" an officer asks.

"What kind of question is that?" Taylor-Britt responds jokingly as the officer laughs.

Taylor-Britt was never charged in the crash.

Matthew Stafford beat out Drake Maye, while Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba were unanimous choices for the 2025 Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team.

Bijan Robinson is the running back while Christian McCaffrey earned the All-Purpose spot. JaMarr Chase is the third wide receiver and tight end Trey McBride got 49 of 50 first-place votes.

Will Anderson Jr. and Micah Parsons joined Garrett at edge rusher. Jeffery Simmons and Zach Allen were selected as interior defensive linemen.

"Thats great. Needed that for real, said Parsons, who had surgery to repair a torn ACL and wont be playing in the playoffs for the Packers. Look forward to trying to get back to that same status this offseason.

The 37-year-old Stafford received 31 first-place votes to Mayes 18 to earn All-Pro honors for the first time in his 17-year career. Josh Allen got the other vote. Stafford was first in the NFL with 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns. His passer rating of 109.2 was second only to Maye, who finished at 113.5. Maye had 4,394 yards passing and 31 TDs.

Last year, Lamar Jackson was the first-team All-Pro quarterback and Allen was the AP NFL MVP.

Thats amazing, Stafford said when he heard the news. I did not see that coming. Played a lot of years. A lot of respect for this game. A lot of respect for the other guys who do what I do. Its not an easy thing to do. It means a lot.

Stafford is the second player ever to be named a first-team All-Pro for the first time in his 17th season or later, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Kicker Gary Anderson also made it for the first time in his 17th season, in 1998. Before Stafford, the longest wait for a quarterback was Fran Tarkenton, who was an All-Pro for the first time in his 15th season, in 1975.

The Denver Broncos, the AFCs No. 1 seed, had four first-team players and two second. Allen, left tackle Garrett Boles, left guard Quinn Meinerz and special teamer Devon Key made the first team. Cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and safety Talanoa Hufanga made the second team.

Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and slot cornerback Cooper DeJean made the roster in their second seasons. Houstons Derek Stingley Jr. got 41 first-place votes to lead the voting at cornerback.

Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, Bears left guard Joe Thuney and Lions right tackle Penei Sewell along with Meinerz are repeat selections.

Garrett, who broke the NFLs single-season sack record with 23, is a five-time All-Pro. Parsons is a three-time first-teamer and once made the second team.

Thats crazy, Anderson said about joining Garrett and Parsons. It means a lot. Its such a blessing. I have to give credit to my guys. I wouldnt be here without them.

Baltimores Kyle Hamilton and Chicagos Kevin Byard are the safeties. Detroits Jack Campbell and Miamis Jordyn Brooks are the linebackers.

San Francisco fullback Kyle Juszczyk rounds out the offense.

Eighteen players are first-timers, including five on special teams.

Key, Vikings kicker Will Reichard, Ravens punter Jordan Stout, Bills kick returner Ray Davis and Titans rookie punt returner Chimere Dike are the first-timers. Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik made it for the second time.

Dike is the fourth rookie since 2020 to make the team.

Thats awesome, Dike said. Everyone wants to be All-Pro one day and thats one of the goals I set at the beginning of the season for my career and to be able to do that in my first year, Im just thankful (special teams) coach (John Fassel) and my teammates had belief in me."

This was the fourth year for the APs new voting system. Voters chose a first team and a second team. First-team votes are worth 3 points, second-team votes are worth 1.

Votes were tabulated by the accounting firm of Lutz and Carr.

As fans express disappointment over another Bengals season without a playoff appearance, the team's director of player personnel said it's his job to right the ship.

"We've got to make the right decisions," Tobin said. "It's on me to point us in the right direction. When we've had failures, I've pointed us in the wrong direction."

Tobin said he knows this season, in which Cincinnati finished 6-11 and third in the AFC North, was not what the organization or fans expected or should accept.

"We know that (the fans) have high expectations for us," Tobin said. "We embrace those high expectations. Believe me, we have high expectations for this football team as well. We didn't meet those expectations. The group we put out there did not fulfill those expectations."

Specifically, he noted the team's "failure early" on defense and the struggle to overcome Burrow's injury on the other side of the ball.

"We had a lot of challenges this year ... we didn't navigate them effectively enough," Tobin said.

He called Cincinnati's 20-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns a microcosm of the team's issues this season, with small errors on either side derailing things.

"(We've) gotta find the solutions to win and produce in the critical moments of games," Tobin said. "The last two seasons have been derailed by critical moment execution errors, and we have to find the group of 11 to put out there to execute in the critical moments, and we will do that."

But how will the Bengals do it? Tobin said this week has been filled with college scouting meetings. While Cincinnati bolstered its player personnel department last offseason, the organization is still known to have the smallest scouting department in the league.

We asked Tobin whether the smaller group had impacted perceived misses in previous drafts.

"Our scouting staff, in my opinion, is the size that it is because I think the collaboration is better at that size," he said. "We've never lacked information on a player ... it's not about the volume of information that we have. If we make a mistake, it's because at the decision point, it is the wrong decision."

He also said that while fans might not think they have, he believes "we've made a lot of good picks."

But Tobin said when the team does make a wrong pick, "it's because I let it get out of whack."

"I have to steer the ship away from poor decisions even though it's what we might feel at the time," he said. "And I have to do a better job to get us pointed at the right decisions at the critical times ... I've got to do a better job at weeding out the bad decisions."

Tobin was asked exactly what the team is looking at this offseason. While he didn't provide details on specific needs, he said this offseason is about "the who's doing it, the what they're doing and how they're doing it."

While he noted that the defense "started to find its footing" as the season went on, and said they have emerging talent on that side of the ball, Tobin said the Bengals "need multiple people to step up and lead our (defense)."

He admitted that the Bengals last offseason "did at the time what we thought would produce for us," but obviously, decisions like re-signing Trey Hendrickson did not work. Now, the team will look both internally and externally for defensive leaders.

"It's hard work we have to find what we believe we need the most and find the players with those traits that'll fill those needs," Tobin said.

When it comes to the draft, Tobin said Cincinnati isn't looking at guys who may need to develop for a second contract. He said they want guys who can come in and play.

"We have excellent scouts. It's on us to make the right decisions," Tobin said. "And even if you want a player doesn't mean you get him ... the whole puzzle has to fit together."

While Tobin has been with the Bengals for decades, his longevity has not meant that fans have always had faith in his or owner Mike Brown's decision-making. Towards the end of this season, a billboard went live calling for the organization to fire both Tobin and head coach Zac Taylor.

Brown, for his part, wrote a letter to fans saying he understands fan frustration after a disappointing season but believes both Tobin and Taylor are the right leaders for Cincinnati.

"After thoughtful consideration, I am confident that Duke Tobin and Zac Taylor are the right leaders to guide us forward," he wrote. "They have proven they can build and lead teams that compete for championships."

Tobin, when asked about why he should still have his job, said he has confidence in himself and the organization.

"I've been here a long time. I don't take this job lightly. I don't take it for granted," Tobin said. "I wake up with the singular focus of how to make this team better. It's what I do. It's a part of who I am in the city that is my home."

He said the only thing that matters is winning a Super Bowl something Cincinnati has never done before.

"That's the only thing I'm after, is a championship," said Tobin. "That really the only definition of success that I have."

Former Texas star and NFL receiver Jordan Shipley was in an accident Tuesday on his ranch near his hometown of Burnet, Texas, that left him hospitalized with severe burns.

Shipley was operating a machine that caught on fire. He was driven to a local hospital and later was taken to Austin on a medical transport flight. He is in critical, but stable condition, according to a statement from his family.

The 40-year-old Shipley earned Associated Press All-America honors with the Longhorns in 2009. He had 248 career catches in college for 3,191 yards and 33 touchdowns.

Shipley was drafted in the third round in 2010 by Cincinnati and had 79 receptions for 858 yards and four touchdowns over three seasons with the Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt has been sentenced to 5 days in jail after pleading guilty to reckless driving and driving without a license.

According to court documents, a ticket was first filed Sept. 14, the day of the Bengals' 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. A CPD officer accused Taylor-Britt, 26, of driving recklessly on Joe Nuxhall Way, near Paycor Stadium, crossing over the double yellow lines and squealing his tires while driving on a suspended license.

His trial date was pushed back to Jan. 6, after the Bengals' season ended. In court Tuesday morning, Taylor-Britt pleaded guilty to driving without a license and reckless driving. Other charges against him were dismissed. According to court records, he was sentenced to five days of confinement for the reckless driving charge.

Taylor-Britt spoke to reporters on Monday, saying he would like to stay in Cincinnati now that his four-year rookie contract is over. However, he noted he was open to a change of scenery. He only played eight games for the Bengals this year, missing the back half of the season after suffering a Lisfranc injury to his foot.

We have reached out to the Bengals for their comment on the sentencing, but have not heard back at this time.

While the Cincinnati Bengals looked as if they were on track to being an AFC powerhouse in 2022, theyre now facing their third straight season outside of the playoffs.

The Bengals have kept their core of Joe Burrow, JaMarr Chase and Tee Higgins intact. But not much else has carried over from the group that made it to the Super Bowl in the 2021 season and lost a close AFC championship game in 2022.

After finishing 9-8 in 2023 and 2024, the Bengals finished the 2025 season with a 6-11 record.

Despite the disappointing record, Bengals president and owner Mike Brown announced coach Zac Taylor and director of player personnel Duke Tobin will return.

Our focus is on building a team that can consistently compete at the highest level, with the goal of winning championships. They have proven they can build and lead teams that compete for championships. We trust their plans and expect to return to our desired level of success," Brown said in a statement.

The regular season ended with yet another game where the defense couldnt make a game-winning play in the final minutes as the Browns beat the Bengals 20-18 on a walk-off field goal. Losses against the Packers, Jets, Bears and Patriots played out in a similar fashion.

Its a little bit fitting, to be honest with you, with how our season has gone, Taylor said. Several times, weve had games where weve played well in different areas and havent found a way to put it all together.

While the defense improved over the course of the season, it never looked playoff-caliber. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson only played in seven games, and first-round pick Shemar Stewart had one sack in eight games. The Bengals ranked in the bottom 10 in the league in sacks in 2025.

The Bengals faced the challenge of being the only team in the NFL with two rookie starting linebackers, who were often targeted in the passing game by the opponent.

Play-in, play-out as a rookie, its taxing on the (mind), cornerback DJ Turner said. I talked to them. Whatever it is for you to lock in and get your mental straight, do that. Figure out what that is in the offseason so you can set up the rest of your career.

The Bengals also had to overcome Burrow missing nine games with a toe injury. While Joe Flacco played admirably after joining the Bengals in October, they were 1-8 when Burrow was sidelined.

For the second time in three years, the Bengals were left wondering if theyd have made the playoffs if Burrow had stayed healthy.

Whats happened is whats happened, Burrow said. I certainly dont want to miss as much time as I have, but thats where Im at. All I can do is evaluate the position Im in and try to get better from there.

Despite big seasons from Chase, Higgins and Chase Brown as well as the most consistent offensive line that the Bengals have had in a decade, the high-powered offense couldnt make up for a defense that ranked 30th in points allowed and 31st in yards allowed.

We learned a lot about ourselves, defensive tackle BJ Hill said. Im excited about these guys in the room. Weve got two young linebackers who will be just fine for us. Everywhere, we were really young. Never give up on yourself or doubt yourself. Keep on working, put your head down and focus on what you can fix.

It was another year defined by injury. After missing time with a knee injury in 2020 and a wrist injury in 2023, Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in Week 2 and was out until late November.

When he was on the field, Burrow was as good as he has been and led the Bengals to blowout wins over the Ravens, Dolphins and Cardinals. He also went toe for toe with Josh Allen in a shootout that the Bengals ended up losing against the Bills.

Burrows completion percentage, yards per attempt and passer rating were right around where they were in 2024 when he was an MVP candidate. In eight games in 2025, Burrow threw for 1,809 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions that included three pick-6s.

Through 11 weeks, the Bengals defense graded out as statistically the worst defense in the history of the NFL by DVOA. The unit took a step forward after the bye week by playing more man defense, blitzing more and allowing the linebackers and safeties to be more versatile. Those wrinkles helped the Bengals record the 12th-most interceptions in the league this season.

But even with that progress, the Bengals ended the season allowing the second-most yards per rushing attempt and the third-most net yards per passing attempt in the NFL this season.

Every draft pick received significant opportunities this season.

While Stewart missed half of the season because of an ankle injury and a knee injury, he filled a variety of roles when healthy and had plenty of games where he played a starters-level of snaps. But with that opportunity, Stewart struggled to finish plays and didnt provide much production.

Linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter struggled against play action, against tight ends and as tacklers this season, but they provided the occasional splash play with a blitz or a pass breakup as the showed some potential. They combined for 212 tackles this season.

Left guard Dylan Fairchild was solid all season, solidifying his place in the Bengals starting lineup in 2026. Jalen Rivers received a chance to become the teams right guard, but he struggled and ended the season in a reserve role. Sixth-round pick Tahj Brooks didnt get many reps at running back this season, but he was frequently used as a kick returner.

Second-year punter Ryan Rehkow ranked third in the NFL in average punt yardage, and he showed consistent improvement over the course of the season at landing punts inside of the 20-yard line. His season-long this year was 70 yards, which was tied for ninth best in the NFL.

Kicker Evan McPherson, despite missing two extra points in the season finale, had a big bounce-back 2025 season. He made a franchise-record 63-yard kick, and he didnt miss a field goal inside of 50 yards this season.

The first question of the offseason will be about the Bengals ability to secure long-term contract extensions with Turner, Hill and Brown.

Theyre also expected to be active in free agency looking for starters on defense. The Bengals have the ability to add an impact starter at every level of the defense, and their biggest need is on the defensive line.

Despite billboards, t-shirts and plenty of other public declarations of "Fire Zac Taylor" seen throughout Cincinnati this season, owner Mike Brown says the Bengals won't fire Head Coach Taylor or Duke Tobin, the team's director of player personnel.

Brown sent out a statement in email on Monday saying that while he knows this past season was frustrating for fans, he believes Taylor and Tobin are the right leaders for the Bengals.

"We came into this season with high expectations, coming off four straight winning seasons with leaders in place that took us to a Super Bowl and two AFC Championship games," reads the statement sent by Brown. "We know this season has been frustrating and disappointing. The results fell short of our standards and missing the playoffs again proves there is more work to do.

"Our focus is on building a team that can consistently compete at the highest level, with the goal of winning championships. After thoughtful consideration, I am confident that Duke Tobin and Zac Taylor are the right leaders to guide us forward. They have proven they can build and lead teams that compete for championships. We trust their plans and expect to return to our desired level of success.

"We are taking a hard look at everything we do as we approach this offseason with focused determination to build a championship-caliber roster that wins consistently. We are fully committed to delivering results that match the pride, passion and expectations of this organization and our fans."

The statement was sent out one day after the Cincinnati Bengals concluded their season with a 20-18 loss against the Cleveland Browns. The Browns fired their head coach, as have the Raiders, Cardinals and Falcons.

At his postseason press conference Monday afternoon, Taylor said he didn't need Brown to write a statement, already knowing they were "aligned and ... on the same page," but said it does provide some clarity that he appreciates.

"I just feel like we are on a path to really good things next year," Taylor said of their aligned outlooks. "And I think everybody that exited this building today feels that players, coaches, everybody involved with this thing. And that this season was a disappointment it didn't go the way we wanted, but I'm already reenergized to get working on 2026 and get back to work. ... I just feel like the energy of this group, and the talent we have, and the progress a lot of these guys made that we've got a chance to be back in the conversation of where we belong."

Bengals fans haven't responded well to the news of no change including singer and host Nick Lachey.

"This is a slap in the face to all #Bengals fans and Ive been one my whole damn life," Lachey said on his social media. "When something isnt working anymore and this clearly isnt, you change. You adapt. You move on. To not do so is to admit that you have zero problem with the outcome youre currently in."

Tobin is also scheduled to speak to the media later this week about the season and his outlook for 2026.

After attempting a comeback late in the fourth quarter, the Cincinnati Bengals ended their season Sunday with a 20-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

A shred of hope was in the air for Cincinnati when Joe Burrow found Ja'Marr Chase in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. The Bengals went for a two-point conversion but were unsuccessful.

Shedeur Sanders and the Browns were able to get the ball down the field far enough for Cleveland to seal the win with a 49-yard field goal from kicker Andre Szmyt.

Despite the loss, Burrow threw 29-of-39 for 236 yards and three touchdowns throughout the game. Shortly before halftime, Burrow found Tee Higgins for an impressive one-handed touchdown catch. Cincinnati kicker Evan McPherson missed the extra point, though.

Burrow found running back Chase Brown, who eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards during the game, for a receiving touchdown. McPherson's extra point attempt was deflected by a Browns defender.

Brown's touchdown also came after Sanders fumbled on a strip sack on the Browns' first drive.

Cleveland collected the majority of its points on defensive touchdowns. Cleveland got its second straight turnover for points when tight end Drew Sample fumbled a pass that was scooped up by Cleveland corner Sam Webb, who ran it back into the end zone.

On the previous Bengals drive, a pass from Burrow was deflected and intercepted by Browns linebacker Devin Bush, who ran it back for a 97-yard pick-six.

Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett also made NFL history, setting the NFL sack record at 23 with a sack against Joe Burrow. Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt were tied for the previous record at 22.5.

While both the Browns and Bengals were eliminated from postseason contention weeks ago, Sunday's matchup still marked a bitter divisional game and the Battle of Ohio.

Head coach Zac Taylor said it was the little things that cost the Bengals the game.

"It's a little bit fitting, you know, with how our season's gone. It doesn't make it right," Taylor said.

Burrow agreed with the sentiment that the loss was fitting.

"It's certainly a microcosm of the way things have gone the past two years," Burrow said.

He also said he thinks the team and organization have the same mindset heading into the offseason.

"I think for the most part we're all on the same page about what we need to do and where we need to go," Burrow said.

When asked if his opinion on the Bengals' organization and front office has changed at all this season, Burrow said, "We all want to win."

The Bengals head into the offseason with a top 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Joe Burrow is in unfamiliar territory.

For the first time in his NFL career, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback is preparing for a Week 18 start knowing that no matter what, the season ends on Sunday.

Burrow was injured in 2020 and 23. The Bengals made it to the Super Bowl in 2021 and the AFC championship game in 22, along with being in contention for a playoff spot up until the last game in 2024.

Obviously, you want to win a Super Bowl, you want to win MVPs, you want to be in the playoffs every year, Burrow said. My goals at this point are just going out and playing as good as I can and continuing to improve, finding ways to continue to be great and continue to find self improvement.

The Bengals (6-10) close out the season on Sunday at home against the Cleveland Browns (4-12). While the Bengals defense has struggled this season, Burrow also missed more than half of the season because of a toe injury that required surgery.

During the offseason, as Burrow works to get stronger, the front office will also need to strengthen the roster. Burrow said that he has a great line of communication with the front office and ownership.

I think my job is to No. 1, play as well as I can. No. 2, continue to improve, and No. 3, be the conduit between coaching staff, front office and the locker room, Burrow said. Relay feelings that players have, relay sentiments in the locker room because coaches and front office, they arent down there every day and they dont understand a lot of the things that go on in the locker room. I think (as a) quarterback, your job is to relay some of those things.

Following three years where the Bengals have missed the postseason, Burrow said that there will need to be some changes for the Bengals to get back to contention in the AFC.

But unlike last season, when he stumped for re-signing players such as Tee Higgins and Mike Gesicki, Burrow is speaking more in generalities.

We want to be competing for championships every year, Burrow said. We dont want to be in the spot we are in now, so somethings got to change, whether its players we have continuing to improve and get better and play championship-caliber football, or bringing in guys that will or whatever it may be.

Right now, Burrows main focus is preparing for a vaunted Browns defense and preparing for one of the top pass rushers in Myles Garrett. Burrow has been sacked 11 times by Garrett in nine meetings.

Garrett is one sack away from setting the single-season record for sacks. While that presents a big challenge, the Bengals also have one of their best offensive lines in years. Because of the development of right tackle Amarius Mims and left guard Dylan Fairchild, the Browns will see a much-improved Bengals offensive line than what they faced in Week 1.

I think theyre playing exponentially better than they were at the time, Burrow said. I know theyre excited about the challenge, but I know (the Browns) front is tough to deal with, starting with (Garrett). They have a lot of other guys, too, that can be very challenging to handle up front. I know theyre excited for it.

Despite living in Columbus for more than two decades, Jordan Gaines said he'll always have a major tie to Cincinnati.

He grew up in the Queen City and, naturally, became a lifelong Bengals fan.

"The Bengals tradition just stayed within our family," Gaines said.

It's a tradition he passed down to his firstborn son, Kaydyn.

Though they never went to a game in person, Gaines said they'd always watch the games together.

The two did get to experience Paycor Stadium, though, when Kaydyn played on the field with his flag football team.

"He scored a couple of touchdowns," Gaines said.

WATCH: Gaines plans to honor his late son by attending the Bengals' last home game

Kaydyn was an athlete, a feat that wasn't easy due to his asthma.

Just before Thanksgiving, Kaydyn had a sudden, severe asthma attack. Kaydyn spent weeks in hospitals in Columbus and Ann Arbor, Michigan.

"It was a long battle," Gaines said. "He was on ECMO, then he was on a ventilator and stuff like that. We never got to communicate with him or anything like that."

Despite his son's condition, Gaines said they kept their tradition of watching the Bengals.

"The Ravens game, I FaceTimed his mom while he was at the hospital with him and we had a watch party on FaceTime," Gaines said.

However, on Dec. 15, just days before his 14th birthday, Kaydyn passed away.

"I think I'm just now getting to the point where it's setting in a little bit. It's been go mode since the whole thing happened," Gaines said.

Gaines said he's trying not to dwell on what happened. Rather, he said he wants to stay grateful for the memories he has with his son.

It's why he got a custom-made Bengals jersey with Kaydyn's name on the back. He chose number 21 for the jersey, in honor of Kaydyn's birthday.

"Not bringing him to a game isn't where I want to leave it at," Gaines said. "I want to come to the games regularly and make sure I wear this jersey."

Gaines said it's why he'll be at Paycor Stadium this Sunday for the Bengals' final home game of the year, wearing his jersey with Kaydyn's name across the back.

He said he's thankful to the Bengals for providing lifetime memories with his son that he'll cherish forever.

"They're not even just a football team to me now," Gaines said. "It's a family of people that builds dreams for kids like my son and for other kids."

The Cincinnati Bengals have won two straight after topping the Arizona Cardinals 37-14 in Paycor Stadium.

It was an explosive day for the Bengals' offense as the Cardinals just couldn't stop Joe Burrow and company.

Burrow threw 24-of-31 for 305 yards and two touchdowns throughout the day before Joe Flacco replaced him in the fourth quarter.

Burrow capped off his day when he found Ja'Marr Chase for his second touchdown of the day.

Chase got Cincinnati on the board first when he juked out several Arizona defenders and leaped into the end zone.

Bengals running back Chase Brown collected two touchdowns on back-to-back drives. His second touchdown came after offensive tackle Cody Ford got a reception from Burrow and carried the ball close to the goal line.

On Cincinnati's previous drive, Brown muscled his way into the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown.

Running back Samaje Perine also got a touchdown when he burst into the end zone on a 1-yard rush.

The Bengals were coming off a much-needed morale boost, having previously beaten the Miami Dolphins 45-21.

After the win, head coach Zac Taylor gave props to Cincinnati's defense for stopping the run game and holding them to only one touchdown for the majority of the game.

"Overall pleased with how everybody approached the game," Taylor said.

Burrow said in his post-game press conference that he thought the offense was "pretty productive, pretty efficient."

"Playoffs are out of the question obviously, but any time you step foot out there, you're playing for pride, for the guys," Burrow said.

Burrow also said that while the season hasn't gone how they wanted, games like Sunday's are why they all play the game.

"This is why you do it, the highs and the lows, the emotion, performing with your guys, it's what you love about it," he said.

Cincinnati will round out its season in Paycor Stadium again next week, facing the Cleveland Browns.

Some NFL offensive linemen were gifted golf carts, watches, suitcases and other luxury items this Christmas but Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow went back in time (like way back in time) with his gift.

Burrow allowed his O-line to each choose an authentic fossil, according to a report from ESPN's Ben Baby.

The 29-year-old had players over to his home in Cincinnati on Monday, where they were greeted by a variety of prehistoric dinosaur, bear and mammoth fossil displays. Players were able to select their fossil of choice depending on when they arrived and their seniority.

According to ESPN, center Ted Karras chose the tusk of a woolly mammoth, which archaeologists estimated to be about 30,000 years old. Tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims both picked cave bear skulls. Rookie left guard Dylan Fairchild also nabbed a Tyrannosaurus rex fossil.

"I think it speaks to his intelligence and interests and his desire to do something unique," Karras told ESPN. "I thought it was really special."

Burrow previously expressed his love of fossils when he was featured on Netflix's "Quarterback" series during the 2024 season. During an episode, Burrow and other teammates went to the Field Museum in Chicago and saw several rare fossils.

"When aren't fossils on your mind?" Burrow said during that "Quarterback" episode. "They go back millions of years. That's sick."

During his press conference Wednesday, Burrow wouldn't reveal what he got his teammates, but called them all excellent choices.

"It says a lot about who he is -- his personality, his heart, all of those things, man," Brown told ESPN. "He's just a special person."

Last year, Burrow gifted the O-line all authentic Japanese Katana swords. Brown told ESPN he's excited to hang his bear skull next to his sword.

"It was quite an event, man," Karras told ESPN. "He just continues to outdo himself as always with his kindness and generosity and his creativity. We're just very thankful for him."

The Cincinnati Bengals defense will look to build upon some new-found confidence on Sunday as they host the Arizona Cardinals.

While the Cardinals (3-12) and the Bengals (5-10) are both trending toward picking in the top 10 of next years draft, the Bengals penultimate home game will give Cincinnatis defense a chance to test itself against a Cardinals offense that ranks seventh in the NFL in passing yards.

Were going to turn it around, defensive coordinator Al Golden said. Weve got the right people in the building. We have leaders emerging.

The Bengals have committed to playing young guys this season. While rookies such as Barrett Carter, Demetrius Knight Jr. and Shemar Stewart have had their growing pains, other young players such as Myles Murphy, DJ Turner, Dax Hill and Jordan Battle have proven themselves to be quality starters.

Over the past month, the defense has turned in strong performances against the Patriots, Ravens and Dolphins.

Its been fun to watch them really take ownership of everything thats happening and improve and go out and play really well in spots, quarterback Joe Burrow said.

Turner has been following the opposing teams No. 1 receiver in recent weeks, and hell likely match up against Cardinals receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. on Sunday. Even though Turner wasnt even a Week 1 starter, hes turning in a 2025 season where he has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.

The strength of the Bengals defense has been their secondary. Turners growth, Hills success after a move from slot corner to outside corner and the unexpected contributions from former practice squad player Jalen Davis have turned around the cornerback group.

Our defensive backs have been playing well all year, Burrow said. DJ (Turner) in my opinion has been one of the best corners in the league this year. Dax is really coming into his own. (Davis) in the slot has really made some big plays for us since he has been in there. All he has done is make plays.

Arizona put two more players on injured reserve this week after rookie Walter Nolen III (knee) and cornerback Garrett Williams (Achilles tendon) went down against the Falcons.

The Cardinals have had a brutal run of injuries this season with 23 players on either injured reserve or the non-football injury list, which is the most in the NFL. Miami is second with 18. The Cardinals have used 80 players in at least one game this season, which is also the most in the league.

Cardinals tight end Trey McBride was one of the teams two Pro Bowl selections this week, joining veteran safety Budda Baker. McBrides having the best season of his four-year career, catching 109 passes for 1,098 yards and 10 TDs.

He needs eight catches on Sunday to set the single-season NFL record for a tight end, a mark thats currently held by Zach Ertz, who caught 116 passes for the Eagles in 2018.

Guarding tight ends has been one of the biggest challenges for the Bengals defense this season, and playing well against McBride would be a encouraging sign.

Burrow bounced back from a shutout loss by throwing for 309 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-21 win in Miami. The shutout looks more like a blip during whats been a very positive month for Burrow following his return to the field.

It was a really good blend of some high degree of difficult throws with just taking what was there in a timely manner, Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said about Burrows performance versus the Dolphins. You mix in a couple of extended plays. It was a microcosm of everything he brings to the table.

While there were a lot of positives in the Bengals win last week, the Bengals didn't have any sacks. Defensive linemen Trey Hendrickson, Joseph Ossai and Kris Jenkins Jr. are all injured, so the Bengals are counting on players such as Cedric Johnson, Cam Sample and McKinnley Jackson in much bigger roles than theyve played in all season.

The injuries also gave Stewart a chance to work into the rotation in his first game back from an injury. The Bengals first-round pick hasnt made much of an impact this season, but he has a chance to generate some momentum heading into 2026.

I was really excited early in the year before he got injured about how he was playing and setting edges and running to the ball and all those things, Golden said. He needs to just go and get healthy and find the joy in playing again because its been a rough go for him.

Linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, the Bengals fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft, signed with the Cardinals last March. He spent five years with the Bengals, playing a role on the defense throughout his Bengals career. In 2024, Davis-Gaither was voted a team captain.

While he was a regular contributor, Davis-Gaither was behind former Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson on the depth chart for his entire Bengals career. In the spring, Davis-Gaither signed a two-year contract with Arizona. He has had a much bigger role with his new team, earning his first 100-plus tackle season of his career.

Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase has been voted to the AFC team for the 2026 Pro Bowl, the Cincinnati Bengals announced Tuesday.

Chase has been named a Pro Bowler in each of his first five seasons since joining the Bengals as a first-round draft pick in 2021. He was also picked as the starting wide receiver for the second season in a row.

According to the team, Chase and former Bengal A.J. Green are the only players in Bengals history to be picked for the Pro Bowl in each of their first five years in the NFL.

No other Bengals players were chosen to join Chase in the Pro Bowl. Three Bengals players have been named alternates, however.

WR Tee Higgins has been named a second alternate, CB DJ Turner II is a third alternate and WR Charlie Jones is a fifth alternate. Alternates can be added to the Pro Bowl team if players who were voted onto the team are unable to play.

For the 2025 Pro Bowl Games, three Bengals made it to the AFC team: Joe Burrow, Trey Hendrickson and Chase. In 2024, both Chase and Hendrickson were voted to the team.

Chase is the sixth Bengal overall to be selected for at least five Pro Bowl appearances, joining OT Anthony Munoz, who had 11 selections, DT Geno Atkins, who was picked eight times, Green, who had seven appearances, and six-time picks WR Chad Johnson and CB Lemar Parrish.

Chase ranks second in the NFL this season in receptions (110) and fourth in receiving yards (1,256). He recently became the fifth player in NFL history to reach the 1,000-yard receiving mark in each of his first five seasons.

The 2026 Pro Bowl will take place on February 3 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, and will be available to watch on ESPN.

The Cincinnati Bengals were looking to bounce back after getting shut out and they did so by toppling the Miami Dolphins 45-21.

The Bengals had a dominating second half that was rounded out by Joe Burrow targeting former Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki in the end zone. Burrow ended 25-of-32 for 309 yards and four touchdowns before he was replaced by Joe Flacco, who finished out the game.

Before Gesicki's touchdown and subsequent griddy, the play was set up after Jalen Davis nabbed Cincinnati's third turnover of the day when he intercepted a deep pass meant for Jaylen Waddle.

Chase Brown had a massive day for himself as well, scoring three touchdowns, including two receiving touchdowns. Brown was the first Cincinnati running back to collect three touchdowns in a game since Joe Mixon did so in 2022 against the Carolina Panthers.

Brown's first touchdown came when he leaped into the end zone. The touchdown came after defensive end Myles Murphy recovered a fumble by Miami tight end Greg Dulcich.

For his second one, Brown waltzed into the end zone untouched. That touchdown came after Cincinnati collected its second turnover of the day when linebacker Barrett Carter picked off a bobbled pass by Quinn Ewers.

Brown collected his third touchdown on a 5-yard pass from Burrow.

Before the half, Bengals running back Samaje Perine also got a touchdown when he rushed 4 yards straight up the middle into the end zone.

Tee Higgins who returned from concussion protocol brought in Cincinnati's first touchdown of the day when he made a crazy catch in the end zone off a 9-yard pass from Burrow.

Though Cincinnati has been eliminated from playoff contention, Sunday's win was a necessity for the team, which has struggled to play complementary football all season.

After the win, head coach Zac Taylor said he was "proud but not surprised" at the way his team played.

In his own press conference, Burrow said that Higgins' touchdown, as well as a key target he had earlier in that drive, helped set the tone for the game.

Cincinnati returns home to face the Arizona Cardinals next week in Paycor Stadium.