Another game, another Cincinnati Bengals game decided by single digits against the Kansas City Chiefs. There were plenty of positives to take from the game from Joe Burrow‘s wrist being good enough to uncork the long ball to Jermaine Burton to Lou Anarumos still being a mad scientist. However, there’s a glaring weakness on the Bengals’ defense and it was both exposed and exacerbated in the loss.
The defensive line, specifically the interior defensive line, is rough.
The Cincinnati Bengals Glaring Weakness on the Defensive Line
In 2021, the Bengals had the fifth-best rushing defense. In 2022, the Bengals had the seventh-best rushing defense. Then, last year, Cincinnati was 26th. And now, through two games, the Bengals have the seventh-worst after allowing 319 on the ground against the Patriots and Chiefs.
Losing D.J. Reader to injury in 2023 and then to free agency was always known to be detrimental. However, for as great as Reader was and is, the Bengals’ issues are deep-seated.
Given, it doesn’t help that 118 of Rhamondre Stevenson‘s 120 yards in Week 1 was after contact.
Against the Chiefs, the Bengals allowed Isiah Pacheco to run for 90 yards off 19 carries before his unfortunate fibula injury. On too many plays, Pacheco was a few yards downfield before any Bengals defender touched him.
Banged-up Rookies
Heading into the season, the Bengals went out and got a free agent defensive tackle and drafted two more.
Then, the preseason injuries began to pile up.
Third-round rookie out of Texas A&M McKinnley Jackson suffered a lower-body injury early in Training Camp and was eventually placed on IR with a designation to return on August 29. He’s out for the first four games with what was described as a knee strain. He is likely going to be groomed into that Reader role as a middle-of-the-line run-stuffer who can garner multiple blockers to free up linebackers.
Last Word on Sports‘ Connor Deitrich viewed McKinnley as someone who, “will still be a productive depth piece. But with the right development, he could become a starting defensive tackle with the ability to have a big impact.”
Then, Kris Jenkins, the rookie out of Michigan, began dealing with a hand injury. “The Mutant” was already flashing in the preseason. After a less-than-ideal first preseason game (he graded out at 29.0 by PFF), he bounced back in a massive way in the second game (75.8). However, he has been dealing with a thumb injury and was inactive for the first two weeks of the season.
According to our Rashad Tatum, Jenkins is, “One of the best in the Draft at stopping the run. If you need a run defender, he’s the guy.” He has incredible strength on the inside and has a refined technique that will disrupt any and all runs up the middle. In a division with Nick Chubb, Lamar Jackson, and the host of running backs from the Baltimore Ravens, the Bengals absolutely had to improve upon its third-worst yards-per-attempt rush defense.
More Visits to the Blue Tent
Sheldon Rankins is now down for the Bengals who are already without BJ Hill.
Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson can't get back on the field fast enough
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) September 15, 2024
In Week 2, the Bengals’ weakness became exacerbated even further. As redundant as that statement is, the team was down to its fifth, sixth, and seventh defensive tackles.
Early on in the game, B.J. Hill was lost to a hamstring injury. Hill has grown into being one of the more productive members of the defensive line, mostly as a pass-rushing tackle. While his specialty is not in run defense, he’s still a starting defensive tackle in the NFL. There is a sizable drop-off after he’s removed from the game.
Sheldon Rankins left the game on two different occasions due to an injured hamstring as well. As with Hill, Rankins is more of a pass-rush specialist but he was having a solid game in run defense against the Chiefs. He finished the game with four tackles and was an integral factor in the Germaine Pratt forced fumble. Rankins ripped at Carson Steele‘s arm and loosened up his grip to allow Pratt to Peanut Punch it out.
As a result, Zachary Carter and Jay Tufele led the unit in snaps on the day. Carter’s 45 snaps were the most since he played 53 as a rookie. Tufele’s 33 were the most since he played 37 in 2022. However, his 63 snaps over these two weeks are the most in a two-game stretch of his career, highlighting just how thin the Bengals are on the interior defensive line.
It All Came to a Head
Whether or not the defensive pass interference penalty was good, the personnel on the field was dictated by injury.
On that pivotal 4th and 16 play, the Bengals rushed three. Trey Hendrickson, Zachary Carter, and Joseph Ossai had to go three-on-five — and still managed to flush Patrick Mahomes out of the pocket — to try and end the game. Mahomes overthrew Rashee Rice, Daijahn Anthony was called for pass interference, and the rest is history.
Anarumo commented that the defensive tackle injuries dictated the personnel grouping on that play. The Bengals were one injury away from kicking Sam Hubbard inside (which wouldn’t be a bad idea, honestly). Had Hill and/or Rankins not gone down with an injury, the Bengals might have rushed four on that play and it may have yielded a different result.
Either way, the Bengals have been incredibly thin at defensive tackle and have only gotten thinner. With a long week leading up to the Monday Night matchup with the Washington Commanders, the Bengals’ weakness needs to be addressed.
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