Bengals' defense faces tough question on two players that fans should worry about

Bengals’ defense faces tough question on two players that fans should worry about originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cincinnati Bengals had one goal this offseason: improve the defensive side of the ball. Joe Burrow and the offense are more than good enough to go on a Super Bowl run.

The same cannot be said about their defense, which was a massive issue during the 2025 season. Now, after a ton of offseason moves, it’s looking a whole lot better.

But, as ESPN’s Ben Solak highlighted, two players are the integral question to whether this defense can truly turn things around.

“Can the Bengals’ linebackers answer the call?” Solak writes. “The table has been set for them to rise to the challenge. It’s hard to see the Bengals’ defense taking a leap if someone in this linebacker unit doesn’t take it individually.”

Bengals fans should be worried about the defense turning things around in 2026, especially since, as Solak called out, they will need one of Demetrius Knight Jr. or Barrett Carter to turn into a good linebacker.

Bengals fans should worry about 1 question stopping Cincinnati from having a good defense

While one of these two 2025 draft picks can turn into a solid pro, it’s far from a guarantee after they struggled so much in 2025.

And it’s not like the Bengals went out and signed or traded for a good starting linebacker to raise the floor of this unit. They will need Carter and Knight to produce right away in 2026.

While the defense overall wasn’t great last year, especially along the defensive line and at safety, the linebacker duo of Knight and Carter left a lot to be desired.

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With Bryan Cook at safety, Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen at defensive tackle, and even Boye Mafe and Cashius Howell at edge rusher, the defense outside of the linebacker position should be a lot better in 2026 than it was in 2025.

However, as Solak called out, the Bengals will need to see development from at least one of Carter or Knight; otherwise, there will still be a huge issue with Al Golden’s defense in 2026.

After their struggles in 2025, this situation is one that Bengals fans have every right to be worried about. It might work out, but relying on this LB duo is a scary situation for Cincinnati’s defense.

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Bengals’ defense faces tough question on two players that fans should worry about

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