ESPN insider ‘taps breaks’ on potential game-changing tweak to Joe Burrow-led Bengals offense

With the Cincinnati Bengals preparing for the preseason and eventually the start of the regular season, there’s no denying the expectations the team has in 2026. As the Bengals’ offense will be led by quarterback Joe Burrow, there could be a change in how the offense is conducted.

ESPN NFL insider and analyst Benjamin Solak would note that in training camp, Cincinnati has been having the quarterback under center, compared to the shotgun formation where the signal-caller is a handful of yards behind the center.

For Solak, he reports that the “results have been mixed,” and that’s putting it “charitably,” further saying that he would “tap the brakes” on a change coming in that front in head coach Zac Taylor’s system.

“Taylor comes from the Sean McVay tree, which has typically been able to get under center and run the ball for the sake of the play-action pass,” Solak wrote. “Yet with Burrow, who prefers to see the entire defense at the snap, the Bengals have never become comfortable with a downhill running game or motion-heavy pre-snap operation. Could that finally be changing this season? I’d tap the brakes on that.”

More on the potential change for the Bengals offense 

Taylor would speak about the potential of the Bengals going more with quarterbacks under center, though the coach would mention the “hope” of the team leading more games cause of the defense improving. Also, Taylor would emphasize the need for a “committed running game,” which is headed by Chase Brown and Samaje Perine.

“When I asked Taylor about the under-center snaps, he emphasized that the Bengals hope to lead more games this season (because of the defensive improvements) and accordingly need a committed running game to salt the clock in a four-minute offense,” Solak continued. “There’s also the desire to show defenses different, unscouted looks — to have some formational versatility in their back pocket…”

At any rate, it remains to be seen how Cincinnati’s offense will look when Week 1 has them taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 13.

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