Bengals OT Orlando Brown Jr. at center of team's biggest concern

Cincinnati’s biggest question entering the 2026 season is on the offensive line, not defense. ESPN’s Ben Baby identified offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. as the Bengals’ “biggest concern” in its season preview, pointing to his effort to regain pre-injury form after a broken leg suffered in 2024. Brown played all 17 games and handled every offensive snap (1,110) last season, and Cincinnati rewarded him with a two-year extension through the 2028 season. The concern also ties to depth and competition: Brown and 2024 first-round pick Amarius Mims are starters, but the preseason didn’t settle the swing tackle role. The Bengals claimed Myles Hinton in August for depth. Protecting Joe Burrow is critical, with ESPN Research noting 213 sacks since entering the NFL and a league-worst 52% pass-block win rate for Cincinnati.