For the first time in years, the Cincinnati Bengals are changing strategies and breaking a long-standing tradition. Every offseason, the team has forced a newly acquired veteran into the Week 1 starting lineup. But reports suggest that the streak is over.

There are no new faces for the first time between 2019 and 2025. And for only the fourth time in franchise history, the team will not feature a single player making his first career NFL start. 

Cincinnati is returning the same five starting offensive linemen from last year. This marks the first time quarterback Joe Burrow will have total continuity up front, and he is thrilled about the stability.

"To have all these guys back is a big advantage early in the season," Burrow told Bengals.com.

Burrow noted that having the same group back provides a massive advantage early in the season. 

"You don't have young guys trying to fit into the mix and learn the communication on the fly. These guys had a lot of reps last year together, and communication is so key on the offensive line, and to be able to have reps at that is so valuable," the QB added.

To ensure this stability, the Bengals quietly signed guard Dalton Risner to a contract extension. While this move was overshadowed by larger offseason signings, it was crucial for the 2026 season. 

With Risner locked in, the line remains securely intact alongside center Ted Karras, sophomore guard Dylan Fairchild, and tackles Orlando Brown and Amarius Mims. 

Joe Burrow Believes Bengals Will Have A Stronger Offense

Last season, the Cincinnati Bengals started the year with two wins and zero losses. It was their best start since Joe Burrow became the quarterback. However, the team believes their offense can play even better at the beginning of this upcoming season.

Burrow thinks the big reason for this improvement will be the offensive line. Because the exact same five starters are returning, they already know how to play perfectly together.

“It’s so beneficial at the beginning of the season when you have the reps of communication that we’ve had with those guys,” Burrow said during his press conference last week.

He explained that the “O-line is all about communicating, knowing where your help is, playing off of each other, and when you have five returning starters, number one, that have done that, number two, that have all the talent to go and make it happen.”

The offensive linemen already trust each other and have proven they are a great unit. Younger players like Fairchild and Mims are only getting better, while veterans like Brown, Karras, and Risner are still playing at a very high level.

Burrow added, “There’s no question that we have to be better in the first couple of games at those positions, and the last half of last year they were unbelievable, and we just have to carry that into first couple weeks of this year and beyond.”

The team played incredibly well during the second half of last year. Now, they just need to bring that same energy and dominance into the very first weeks of the new season. 

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Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit