Bengals Star Still Has Plenty to Prove After Week 1 Debut

The Cincinnati Bengals’ offseason trade for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence—acquiring him from the New York Giants by sending the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft—puts added pressure on Lawrence to deliver beyond Week 1 flashes. In his debut in Cincinnati, Lawrence helped create quarterback pressure but finished without a sack or tackle. Still, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox highlighted him as the Bengals player with the most to prove entering Week 2, noting that Lawrence recorded a quarterback hit, pushed into the backfield multiple times, and drew attention that enabled other defenders. The Bengals, aiming for a playoff return in 2026, need him to be more consistent.