It doesn’t feel like long ago that the Cincinnati Bengals were playing football in cold December weather and trying to chase down a playoff spot in the AFC.That was more than seven months ago, but a new offseason has quickly come and gone and the Bengals are set to join the other 31 NFL teams in kicking off training camp over the coming days.The biggest question for the Bengals in 2025 seems obvious: can the team return to the playoffs after missing the postseason field in each of the last two seasons?With the pieces the Bengals have on offense – specifically quarterback Joe Burrow and his two favorite receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins – the answer should be yes.But the NFL is a complicated sport with many variables and the Bengals still have questions in several areas going into a new season.Below are some of the biggest storylines to watch as the Bengals get set for another season of football.1. Will Trey Hendrickson get his deal?The No. 1 story for the Bengals since free agency even began has centered around their Pro Bowl pass rusher and their most disgruntled player on the roster, Trey Hendrickson.Hendrickson, 30, is under contract with the Bengals through the 2025 season and has been angling for a contract extension since before last season.In four seasons with the Bengals, Hendrickson has recorded 57 sacks, made the Pro Bowl each season and was a first-team All-Pro recipient in 2024.After initially agreeing to a four-year, $60 million contract with the Bengals ahead of the 2021 season, Hendrickson signed an extension with the Bengals before the 2023 season to keep him in Cincinnati through 2025.Hendrickson has remained adamant on his desires for an extension and based on comments that he made this offseason, it seems likely that he would sit out for an extended period until the Bengals can meet his wishes and extend him.From the Bengals’ perspective, ensuring that Hendrickson is on the field for the start of the 2025 season is imperative for a team working with a new defensive coordinator in Al Golden, who inherits a defense that was one of the league’s worst a season ago.Hendrickson is far and away the most established and productive player on Cincinnati’s defense and brings an element to the Bengals’ defensive line that can’t be replicated with the players behind him on the depth chart.The veteran edge rusher also provides a stellar example for younger players such as Myles Murphy, Joseph Ossai and another player that is at the center of a big storyline for the Bengals: 2025 first round pick Shemar Stewart. Speaking of…2. Can the Bengals figure out the Stewart situation?There is one player who was taken in the first round of the 2025 draft who remains unsigned by the team that picked them: defensive end Shemar Stewart, whom the Bengals selected with the No. 17 pick.What began as a rarely mentioned formality quickly devolved into a full-blown crisis when Stewart didn’t practice with the team during mandatory minicamp in May and then spent time after practice airing out his frustrations with the Bengals while meeting with the media.A dispute over contract language has put the Bengals and Stewart at odds and the Texas A&M product has not practiced with the team as he awaits putting pen to paper on that rookie deal.That lost time could be hurtful for a player like Stewart, who is one of the most talented players in the class at his position, but not yet a finished product who needs refinement on his skills to reach his full potential in the NFL.At 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, Stewart’s measurables and physicality were among the best in the class at his position, though he had just 1.5 sacks and two passes defended for the Aggies in 2024.Ideally for the Bengals, Stewart and the organization can come to an agreement on his deal and have the rookie edge rusher in the swing of things by the time the first preseason game rolls around on Aug. 7. But the clock is ticking to make that happen.3. What will Golden’s unit look like in first season as DC?Hendrickson and Stewart are garnering much of the headlines on the defensive side of the football for Cincinnati, but going into 2025, all eyes will be on the defense as a whole.Cincinnati allowed 30 or more points in six games last season, all coming before the Bengals’ five-game winning streak to end the season. That led to the firing of defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and the arrival of former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden as his replacement.The 55-year-old Golden has previous experience with the Bengals, coaching the team’s linebackers during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Now, he will run the show for a defense that finished 25th in the NFL in points allowed per game last season, 29th in touchdowns allowed and 30th in first downs allowed.Linebacker Germaine Pratt will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by second round rookie Demetrius Knight Jr. Cincinnati will also be working in former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Oren Burks and former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle T.J. Slaton, who signed a two-year deal in free agency.Outside of those players, the Bengals will bring back a similar unit to 2024 as they place their faith in Golden to help returning players make improvements with a new system.How much improvement the defense makes in 2025 could be the factor that makes or breaks the Bengals’ playoff hopes.4. What does Burrow have for an encore?The Bengals came up short on reaching the playoffs in 2024, but it was through no fault of their quarterback Burrow, who authored a magnificent season as he finished fourth in MVP voting.The 28-year-old made his second Pro Bowl appearance, won AP Comeback Player of the Year, tossed 43 touchdowns to just nine interceptions and set career-highs in completion percentage, passing yards, yards per game and first downs.With Chase and Higgins both under long-term contract extensions, tight end Mike Gesicki back in the fold and running back Chase Brown entering his first full season as the unquestioned starter, the sky seems to be the limit for Burrow as he guides a high-powered Bengals offense.Burrow’s connection with Chase was on full display in 2024, with Chase winning the receiving triple crown after leading the league in catches (127), receiving yards (1,708) and receiving touchdowns (17.) Teams can’t just gear up to stop Chase, however, due to the presence of Higgins on the other side of the field, creating matchup nightmares for Burrow and the Bengals to exploit.That seems likely to continue into 2025, but another thing worth watching is who can earn Burrow’s trust as the No. 3 receiver. Andrei Iosivas is a good bet after his 2024 success (36 catches for 479 yards, six touchdowns) but former third round pick Jermaine Burton may also carve out a larger role if he can show a better understanding of the offense in his second year.5. Who’s starting at guard?Almost all the offensive starting spots are accounted for with the Bengals, except who will be playing right and left guard when the team breaks camp.With Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims entrenched at the tackle spots and veteran center Ted Karras locked into his starting role, there is a competition for two starting spots between four players: Cody Ford, Cordell Volson, Dylan Fairchild and Lucas Patrick.Fairchild, a 2025 third round pick, and Patrick, an offseason signee from the New Orleans Saints, are the two newcomers to the team, with the Bengals high on each of their chances to make a positive impact in their first years in Cincinnati.There could be something to say for familiarity along the offensive line when it comes to protecting Burrow, however, and Ford and Volson will provide that going into training camp.Ford and Volson started a combined 24 games in 2024, have experience blocking in front of Burrow and Brown, and have familiarity with the offensive scheme that the Bengals use under offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher and head coach Zac Taylor.Will that give both players an upper hand in the competition for the two starting spots? Training camp will go a long way toward providing that answer ahead of Week 1 in Cleveland.

CINCINNATI —

It doesn’t feel like long ago that the Cincinnati Bengals were playing football in cold December weather and trying to chase down a playoff spot in the AFC.

That was more than seven months ago, but a new offseason has quickly come and gone and the Bengals are set to join the other 31 NFL teams in kicking off training camp over the coming days.

The biggest question for the Bengals in 2025 seems obvious: can the team return to the playoffs after missing the postseason field in each of the last two seasons?

With the pieces the Bengals have on offense – specifically quarterback Joe Burrow and his two favorite receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins – the answer should be yes.

But the NFL is a complicated sport with many variables and the Bengals still have questions in several areas going into a new season.

Below are some of the biggest storylines to watch as the Bengals get set for another season of football.

1. Will Trey Hendrickson get his deal?

The No. 1 story for the Bengals since free agency even began has centered around their Pro Bowl pass rusher and their most disgruntled player on the roster, Trey Hendrickson.

Hendrickson, 30, is under contract with the Bengals through the 2025 season and has been angling for a contract extension since before last season.

In four seasons with the Bengals, Hendrickson has recorded 57 sacks, made the Pro Bowl each season and was a first-team All-Pro recipient in 2024.

After initially agreeing to a four-year, $60 million contract with the Bengals ahead of the 2021 season, Hendrickson signed an extension with the Bengals before the 2023 season to keep him in Cincinnati through 2025.

Hendrickson has remained adamant on his desires for an extension and based on comments that he made this offseason, it seems likely that he would sit out for an extended period until the Bengals can meet his wishes and extend him.

From the Bengals’ perspective, ensuring that Hendrickson is on the field for the start of the 2025 season is imperative for a team working with a new defensive coordinator in Al Golden, who inherits a defense that was one of the league’s worst a season ago.

Hendrickson is far and away the most established and productive player on Cincinnati’s defense and brings an element to the Bengals’ defensive line that can’t be replicated with the players behind him on the depth chart.

The veteran edge rusher also provides a stellar example for younger players such as Myles Murphy, Joseph Ossai and another player that is at the center of a big storyline for the Bengals: 2025 first round pick Shemar Stewart. Speaking of…

2. Can the Bengals figure out the Stewart situation?

There is one player who was taken in the first round of the 2025 draft who remains unsigned by the team that picked them: defensive end Shemar Stewart, whom the Bengals selected with the No. 17 pick.

What began as a rarely mentioned formality quickly devolved into a full-blown crisis when Stewart didn’t practice with the team during mandatory minicamp in May and then spent time after practice airing out his frustrations with the Bengals while meeting with the media.

A dispute over contract language has put the Bengals and Stewart at odds and the Texas A&M product has not practiced with the team as he awaits putting pen to paper on that rookie deal.

That lost time could be hurtful for a player like Stewart, who is one of the most talented players in the class at his position, but not yet a finished product who needs refinement on his skills to reach his full potential in the NFL.

At 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, Stewart’s measurables and physicality were among the best in the class at his position, though he had just 1.5 sacks and two passes defended for the Aggies in 2024.

Ideally for the Bengals, Stewart and the organization can come to an agreement on his deal and have the rookie edge rusher in the swing of things by the time the first preseason game rolls around on Aug. 7. But the clock is ticking to make that happen.

3. What will Golden’s unit look like in first season as DC?

Hendrickson and Stewart are garnering much of the headlines on the defensive side of the football for Cincinnati, but going into 2025, all eyes will be on the defense as a whole.

Cincinnati allowed 30 or more points in six games last season, all coming before the Bengals’ five-game winning streak to end the season. That led to the firing of defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and the arrival of former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden as his replacement.

The 55-year-old Golden has previous experience with the Bengals, coaching the team’s linebackers during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Now, he will run the show for a defense that finished 25th in the NFL in points allowed per game last season, 29th in touchdowns allowed and 30th in first downs allowed.

Linebacker Germaine Pratt will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by second round rookie Demetrius Knight Jr. Cincinnati will also be working in former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Oren Burks and former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle T.J. Slaton, who signed a two-year deal in free agency.

Outside of those players, the Bengals will bring back a similar unit to 2024 as they place their faith in Golden to help returning players make improvements with a new system.

How much improvement the defense makes in 2025 could be the factor that makes or breaks the Bengals’ playoff hopes.

4. What does Burrow have for an encore?

The Bengals came up short on reaching the playoffs in 2024, but it was through no fault of their quarterback Burrow, who authored a magnificent season as he finished fourth in MVP voting.

The 28-year-old made his second Pro Bowl appearance, won AP Comeback Player of the Year, tossed 43 touchdowns to just nine interceptions and set career-highs in completion percentage, passing yards, yards per game and first downs.

With Chase and Higgins both under long-term contract extensions, tight end Mike Gesicki back in the fold and running back Chase Brown entering his first full season as the unquestioned starter, the sky seems to be the limit for Burrow as he guides a high-powered Bengals offense.

Burrow’s connection with Chase was on full display in 2024, with Chase winning the receiving triple crown after leading the league in catches (127), receiving yards (1,708) and receiving touchdowns (17.) Teams can’t just gear up to stop Chase, however, due to the presence of Higgins on the other side of the field, creating matchup nightmares for Burrow and the Bengals to exploit.

That seems likely to continue into 2025, but another thing worth watching is who can earn Burrow’s trust as the No. 3 receiver. Andrei Iosivas is a good bet after his 2024 success (36 catches for 479 yards, six touchdowns) but former third round pick Jermaine Burton may also carve out a larger role if he can show a better understanding of the offense in his second year.

5. Who’s starting at guard?

Almost all the offensive starting spots are accounted for with the Bengals, except who will be playing right and left guard when the team breaks camp.

With Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims entrenched at the tackle spots and veteran center Ted Karras locked into his starting role, there is a competition for two starting spots between four players: Cody Ford, Cordell Volson, Dylan Fairchild and Lucas Patrick.

Fairchild, a 2025 third round pick, and Patrick, an offseason signee from the New Orleans Saints, are the two newcomers to the team, with the Bengals high on each of their chances to make a positive impact in their first years in Cincinnati.

There could be something to say for familiarity along the offensive line when it comes to protecting Burrow, however, and Ford and Volson will provide that going into training camp.

Ford and Volson started a combined 24 games in 2024, have experience blocking in front of Burrow and Brown, and have familiarity with the offensive scheme that the Bengals use under offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher and head coach Zac Taylor.

Will that give both players an upper hand in the competition for the two starting spots? Training camp will go a long way toward providing that answer ahead of Week 1 in Cleveland.