{"id":118208,"date":"2021-07-21T10:54:54","date_gmt":"2021-07-21T14:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=118208"},"modified":"2021-07-21T10:55:04","modified_gmt":"2021-07-21T14:55:04","slug":"cincinnati-bengals-training-camp-burning-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/07\/21\/cincinnati-bengals-training-camp-burning-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp Brings Burning Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

In just a few days, Cincinnati Bengals training camp will begin, ending a long off-season that brought plentiful change. Of course, most of the roster is set ahead of camp and the coaching staff\u2019s job truly begins. After back-to-back free-agent spending sprees and high draft slots, it\u2019s time for the organization to prove its vision. Further, the tock is clearly clicking on Joe Burrow<\/a>\u2019s rookie contract. In 2021, they need to show the ability to build a winner<\/a> around the young passer. Training camp will be a major step towards showcasing that vision and that ability within this organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Key Questions Needing Answers During Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp<\/span><\/h2>\n

Seemingly since the 2015 season, it\u2019s been more questions than answers entering Cincinnati Bengals training camp. After a five-season playoff drought and major roster churn, the team is full of fresh faces and open depth chart positions. Clearly, franchise centerpieces like Joe Burrow, Jessie Bates III, Tyler Boyd<\/a>, and Sam Hubbard are locked into roles. Further, budding stars like Tee Higgins<\/a>, Joe Mixon<\/a>, DJ Reader, and Logan Wilson are looking to build on impressive resumes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, training camp is a time for the depth pieces to prove their worth. Perhaps more than any other sport, football requires teams to be more than the sum of their parts. With the clear need for this roster to turn a corner in 2021, the players lower on the depth chart need to produce this season. Perhaps the biggest question of them all is; do the Bengals have the right depth pieces or will that be another struggle? Seemingly, it depends on how a few key position battles pan out over the next six-to-eight weeks. In general, 2021 will be<\/a> a put-up-or-shut-up season for Zac Taylor and his coaching staff. Even with Joe Burrow’s endorsement<\/a>, the hot seat remains. However, how they answer their key questions in training camp could change their situation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who Will Be the Backup Tackle With Hakeem Adeniji Out for the Season?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Without a doubt, the Bengals offensive line wasn\u2019t good enough in 2020. This off-season, they made some key upgrades and also made a bet on health for other core members. With that said, the combo of Jonah Williams and Riley Reiff doesn\u2019t exactly have fans cheering in troves. Williams, Cincinnati\u2019s 2019 first-round pick, has played well<\/a> when healthy but has only 10 appearances in his first two seasons. In Reiff, a nine-year veteran<\/a> and 32-year-old tackle, they\u2019ll hope health won\u2019t be an issue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hakeem Adeniji likely being out for the season is actually a solid blow.<\/p>\n

Having a backup OL that can play any position would have been nice, plus he played decent last season. A missed year of development as well. #Bengals<\/a><\/p>\n

— Blake Jewell (@BlakeJewellNFL) June 15, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n