Bengals Reeling from Brutal Wave of Injuries: Key Players Lost, Young Talent Sidelined, and Defensive Depth in Crisis as the 2025 NFL Season Approaches…
The Cincinnati Bengals, once viewed as a rising juggernaut in the AFC, are facing a troubling and emotionally charged offseason marked by a mounting list of injuries to vital players. With the 2025 NFL season just around the corner, the Bengals’ preparation has been derailed by a brutal stretch of bad luck, medical setbacks, and recovery concerns that have cast doubt on their ability to rebound from last year’s underwhelming 9–8 finish.
At the top of the growing injury report is tight end Erick All Jr., whose promising rookie season has been wiped out before it could begin. After suffering a torn ACL during the 2024 campaign, All has been officially ruled out for the entire 2025 season. The young tight end was drafted with hopes of becoming a reliable target for quarterback Joe Burrow, especially in third-down and red-zone situations. His absence leaves a significant hole in the offensive game plan and robs the team of one of its most anticipated rookie contributors.
The running back room has also taken a hit with Chase Brown sidelined by a lower-body injury sustained in Week 17 of the 2024 season. Brown was expected to play a major role in the Bengals’ revamped ground attack. After flashing elite burst and big-play potential last season, his injury not only dampens offensive momentum but also forces the Bengals to reconsider how they balance their pass-heavy system.
On the defensive side, there is more bad news. Dax Hill, the talented young safety drafted to be a cornerstone in the secondary, is dealing with a persistent foot issue. His status for training camp is uncertain. B.J. Hill, one of the team’s most consistent interior linemen, is rehabbing a knee injury, while Cam Sample—a key rotational edge rusher—is attempting a comeback from a torn Achilles, one of the most difficult injuries to overcome in football.
These mounting injuries are not just individual setbacks—they represent a systemic challenge. The Bengals are trying to regain their identity after missing the playoffs last season, but continuity and health are essential to that effort. Instead, the coaching staff is scrambling to patch together a roster that lacks cohesion heading into a critical season.
Head coach Zac Taylor faces enormous pressure to hold the team together amid this adversity. He must now juggle limited reps in camp, potential free-agent signings, and altered schemes, all while protecting the health of other starters—most notably Joe Burrow, who is himself returning from a 2024 season-ending wrist injury.
If these injuries linger deep into training camp or worsen, the Bengals may enter the 2025 season underprepared, undermanned, and forced to rely on depth pieces not ready for the spotlight. In a hypercompetitive AFC, where even one or two losses can separate playoff teams from also-rans, Cincinnati’s medical crisis couldn’t come at a worse time.
The question now isn’t just whether the Bengals can compete—but whether they’ll even be fully assembled when the opening kickoff arrives.