With the 2024 NFL Draft in the rearview, the Cincinnati Bengals are gearing up for the upcoming season.
Following the addition of several key players this offseason, the Bengals are widely viewed as one of the top teams in the AFC and will begin making roster decisions. Additionally, the team will be having renovations made to their stadium. That and more in today’s Bengals news!
Cincinnati Bengals News Today
Bengals’ DJ Turner II Ready To Go Head-to-Head With Michigan Teammate
Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II is preparing to compete with former Michigan teammate Dax Hill for a starting job this season.
Shortly after the draft ended, Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that 2022 first-round pick Hill would be making the switch to cornerback after starting all 17 games at safety last season.
“It’s nothing new,” Turner said. “We came into college with each other (competing at cornerback).”
READ MORE: Turner Ready to Compete Against Michigan Teammate
Bengals Detail Paycor Stadium Renovation Upgrades
Among the upgrades the Bengals are making to Paycor Stadium are a bigger plaza, more televisions in concourses, and new club seats.
Since the team announced it would be replacing the playing surface, which was one of just slit-film artificial fields in the league, there has been an outpouring of support on social media to return to the leaping tiger or Bengals head logo as the design for the 50-yard line.
But, Cincinnati director of strategy and engagement Elizabeth Blackburn told bengals.com the team will be returning to the striped block “B,” the team’s primary logo, as the 50-yard line design.
“We want our field to be immediately recognizable, and our primary logo accomplishes that in a clean, crisp way,” Blackburn said.
With the stadium lease set to expire in 2026 — although a series of five rolling two-year extensions are worked into the document — Hamilton County Commissioners committed $39 million in renovation projects this offseason.
The locker room is currently under construction, a project that has forced the players into two auxiliary locker rooms in the facility as they begin the offseason program.
Stadium accessibility, technology, and other operations upgrades are also in the works.
CONTINUE READING: Bengals Set for Stadium Renovations
Tyler Boyd Meeting With Titans and Chargers
Now that the NFL Draft has concluded, Tyler Boyd will likely sign with an NFL team shortly.
It likely won’t be the Bengals, especially after the team spent a third-round pick on Alabama wideout Jermaine Burton.
It does appear Boyd could be reunited with Brian Callahan, as the veteran has reportedly set up visits with the Tennessee Titans, as well as the Los Angeles Chargers.
In 120 career games over eight seasons with the Bengals, Boyd has caught 513 passes for 6,000 yards and 31 touchdowns. Primarily working as the team’s starting slot receiver, Boyd hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season since 2019, the first year Callahan and Zac Taylor came to Cincinnati.
The Titans currently have DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and former first-rounder Treylon Burks at wideout, so they don’t have as pressing of a need.
As for the Chargers, they have Ladd McConkey, Joshua Palmer, and Quentin Johnston, so they could use another weapon.
READ MORE: Where Could Bengals Go Light on Final 53-Man Roster?