The 2026 season is the Cincinnati Bengals' 57th in the National Football League (NFL), their 59th overall, their 27th playing their home games at Paycor Stadium, and their eighth under head coach Zac Taylor. The Bengals will seek to improve upon their 6–11 record from the previous season, make the playoffs after a three-year absence, and put an end to 3 consecutive seasons not winning the AFC North. On April 18, the Bengals traded the 10th overall pick to the New York Giants in exchange for DT Dexter Lawrence. This was the first time Cincinnati had ever traded a top-ten draft pick. The Bengals will also play in the NFL International Series for the first time since 2019. The Bengals finished the preseason undefeated for the first time since 2006.

Offseason Signings Position Player 2025 Team Date signed ContractCBJalen DavisCincinnati BengalsFebruary 201 year, $1.575 millionGDalton RisnerCincinnati BengalsMarch 21 year, $3.25 millionDEBoye MafeSeattle SeahawksMarch 123 years, $60 millionSBryan CookKansas City ChiefsMarch 123 years, $40.25 millionDTJonathan AllenMinnesota VikingsMarch 132 years, $25 millionQBJoe FlaccoCincinnati BengalsMarch 241 year, $6 millionCBJa'Sir TaylorNew York JetsApril 21 year, $1.215 millionSKyle DuggerPittsburgh SteelersApril 21 year, $1.4025 million

Extensions Position Player Date signed ContractOTOrlando BrownMarch 122 years, $32 millionDTDexter LawrenceApril 191 year, $28 million

Departures Position Player 2026 Team Date signed ContractTENoah FantNew Orleans SaintsMarch 112 years, $8.75 millionGCordell VolsonTennessee TitansMarch 121 year, $2.45 millionDEJoseph OssaiNew York JetsMarch 123 years, $34.5 millionDETrey HendricksonBaltimore RavensMarch 124 years, $112 millionQBJake BrowningTampa Bay BuccaneersMarch 131 year, $1.3325 millionCBMarco WilsonMiami DolphinsMarch 131 year, $1.315 millionSGeno StoneBuffalo BillsMarch 161 year, $1.4025 millionCBCam Taylor-BrittIndianapolis ColtsMarch 171 year, $1.4025 millionSTycen AndersonDenver BroncosMarch 191 year, $1.5 millionGLucas PatrickNew York GiantsApril 61 year, $1.4875 millionDECameron SampleSan Francisco 49ersApril 131 year, $1.3935 million

Draft

+ 2026 Cincinnati Bengals draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 10 Traded to the New York Giants 2 41 Cashius Howell DE Texas A&M 3 72 Tacario Davis CB Washington 4 110 Traded to the New York Jets 128 Connor Lew C Auburn From Jets 140 Colbie Young WR Georgia From Jets via Lions 5 149 Traded to the Cleveland Browns 6 189 Brian Parker II C Duke 199 Traded to the New York Jets 7 221 Jack Endries TE Texas From Giants via Cowboys 226 Landon Robinson DT Navy Notes Bengals traded a fifth-round selection (149th overall) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a sixth-round selection (199th overall) and QB Joe Flacco. Bengals traded LB Logan Wilson to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a seventh-round pick (221st overall). Bengals traded the 10th overall pick to the New York Giants in exchange for DT Dexter Lawrence. Bengals traded the 110th and 199th overall picks to the New York Jets in exchange for the 128th and 140th overall picks.

Undrafted free agents + 2026 Cincinnati Bengals draft selections Name Position College Ref.Corey Robinson IIOTArkansas Jack Dingle LB CincinnatiNoah ThomasWRGeorgiaJamal HaynesRBGeorgia TechJosh KattusTEKentuckyLiam BrownGMontanaCeyair WrightCBNebraskaChristian JonesOTSan Diego StateKentrel BullockRBSouth AlabamaEric GentryLBUSCIsaiah NwokobiaSSMU

Staff

Current roster

Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Detroit Lions W 16–14 1–0 Paycor Stadium Recap 2 Chicago Bears W 27–9 2–0 Paycor Stadium Recap 3 at Philadelphia Eagles W 30–13 3–0 Lincoln Financial Field Recap

Regular season Schedule Week Date Time () Opponent Result Record Venue Network Recap 1 September 13 1:00p.m. Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 33–27 1–0 Paycor Stadium Fox Recap 2 September 20 1:00p.m. at Houston Texans W 20–6 2–0 Reliant Stadium CBS Recap 3 September 27 1:00p.m. at Pittsburgh Steelers L 27–30 2–1 Acrisure Stadium CBS Recap 4 October 4 1:00p.m. Jacksonville Jaguars L 17–22 2–2 Paycor Stadium CBS Recap 5 October 11 1:00p.m. at Miami Dolphins Hard Rock Stadium Fox 6 Bye 7 October 25 1:00p.m. at Baltimore Ravens M&T Bank Stadium CBS 8 November 1 1:00p.m. Tennessee Titans Paycor Stadium CBS 9 November 8 9:30a.m. at Atlanta Falcons Bernabéu NFLN 10 November 15 8:20p.m. Pittsburgh Steelers Paycor StadiumNBC 11 8:15p.m. at Washington Commanders Northwest Stadium ESPN 12 November 29 1:00p.m. New Orleans Saints Paycor Stadium CBS 13 December 6 1:00p.m. at Cleveland Browns Huntington Bank Field CBS 14 December 13 4:25p.m. Kansas City Chiefs Paycor Stadium Fox 15 December 20 1:00p.m. at Carolina Panthers Bank of America Stadium Fox 16 December 27 at Indianapolis Colts Lucas Oil Stadium 17 8:15p.m. Baltimore Ravens Paycor Stadium Prime Video 18 January 10 Cleveland Browns Paycor Stadium Notes Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Networks and times from Weeks 5–17 and dates from Weeks 12–17 are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling, for the exceptions of Weeks 9 and 11. The date, time and network for Week 16 will be finalized by no later than the end of Week 14. The date, time and network for Week 18 will be finalized at the end of Week 17.

Game summaries Week 1: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 2: at Houston Texans With their best defensive performance in years, the Bengals improved to 2–0 for the second year in a row and 1–0 on the road and against the AFC South.

Week 3: at Pittsburgh Steelers

This marked the Bengals' second straight loss to Pittsburgh.

Week 4: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

This marked the Bengals' first loss to the Jaguars since 2019. During the game, Ja'Marr Chase suffered a concussion, and Tee Higgins suffered an adductor injury.

Week 5: at Miami Dolphins

Standings Division

Conference

References

External links