The Cincinnati Bengals are zeroing in on improving their pass rush. They’ll need to balance the immediate goal of protecting their star QB, Joe Burrow, with loading their roster with talent for the long haul. Currently, the team has recorded 25 sacks this season, with a notable increase of 10 in their last three games against MVP-winning quarterbacks, including Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. The explosion in production is indicative of a complete lack of production from the Bengals’ defense and room for improvement. The collective performance hasn’t always matched the potential promised by those earlier drafts.
As athletic quarterbacks storm the league, it’s changing the offensive landscape. To get them off their game, teams need to bring pressure from the interior of the defensive line. The Bengals had recently figured out that for success against mobile quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts to be possible, you had to collapse the middle of the pocket. Trey Hendrickson has emerged as a standout player on the defensive front, leading the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024. As great as he’s been, the Bengals have had a tough time finding consistent pass-catching options next to him.
Statistically, Hendrickson is otherworldly. Nevertheless, he remains the only defensive Pro Bowler for the Bengals since Geno Atkins was named to the team in 2019. The Bengals’ pass rush, led by Hendrickson, has taken noticeable and meaningful strides in recent weeks. To construct a more imposing bulwark, they must continue to cultivate their most vital assets— their homegrown talent.
Joseph Ossai has become a crucial asset for Cincinnati, recording a team-high five sacks and establishing himself as a key figure in the upcoming free agency. Ossai reiterated the need to have a pass rush, adding that it’s critical for the back line, saying.
“Every defense needs that, and every defense wants that.”
This year the Bengals really blew up their defensive staff. If implemented, those changes would allow for much better long-term performance. Jerry Montgomery, the team’s defensive line coach, spoke to the need for both edge rushers and interior pressure, highlighting that it’s essential to have both.
“You can have an awesome edge rusher, but if you don’t have any inside push or any inside rush, then that guy can run off the edge all he wants or they can slide protect to him.”
This feeling encapsulates the Bengals’ historic struggle to create anything near an effective, let alone balanced, pass-rushing approach. Beyond adding impact edge rushers in recent drafts, it’s been a consistent execution that’s proven to be the biggest hurdle.
Myles Murphy has helped his own cause by taking big steps toward maximizing his playing time, certainly helping the defensive cause. He argued that confidence is incredibly important in determining how O-lines react, stating that
“Really it’s a confidence thing, just knowing this is what I’m going to dictate to the old line, this is what I’m going to dictate to the offense.”
As the Bengals consider their future plans, finding key pass rushers will be a significant part of management discussions leading into 2026 and beyond. The futures of both Hendrickson and Ossai will be key as free agency looms.
The group is determined to improve its pass rush. This effort will not only help Burrow, but take a shot at addressing the league’s most desperate need for improvement — defense. The Bengals’ management understands that a solid pass rush can enhance the entire team’s performance on both sides of the ball.
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