Cincinnati

Bengals

Three Bengals tight ends caught at least one pass, but All somehow was not one of them. That will probably change going forward, but this is confirmation that it’s going to be a while if All is to develop back-end streamer relevance this season.

Gesicki led the Bengals in catches, targets and yards and was the only pass catcher to score on an afternoon where the Bucs’ defense was funneling Joe Burrow to the middle of the field. Gesicki’s score was a two-yarder where he rolled in to the end zone in the first quarter. Gesicki’s yardage total would have been his second highest of 2025. He’s a valuable real-life contributor, but he is going to have trouble cracking the top 18 tight ends on a regular basis with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown all usage monsters for the Bengals.

It was neither an efficient nor prolific outing for the Bengals’ lead back, but he found the end zone and out-touched No. 2 Samaje Perine 21-8. It was a full “as expected” day in the Bengals’ backfield. Brown will remain in the RB10-14 range for Week 2 against the Texans. That’s a tough defensive matchup, albeit one the similarly offensive-minded Bills just handled with ease.

Higgins also had a long second half reception overturned when he failed to keep control heading to the ground. Like Ja’Marr Chase, it was a quiet statistical start to the year caused in part by short Bengals fields following Bucs turnovers. Tampa’s defense also seemed to be forcing Joe Burrow to the middle of the field. Higgins has a tough Week 2 test in the Texans, but we are still firing him up as a WR2 after Houston’s defense folded vs. the Bills on Sunday.

Typically if you see 33 points for the Bengals, you are going to assume a big day for the No. 1 wideout, especially vs. an undermanned secondary. It wasn’t meant to be for whatever reason — one reason was short fields set up by Bucs turnovers — with Joe Burrow looking Chase’s way on only four of 35 attempts. Burrow was also more focused on the middle of the field than the boundary. It continues Burrow and Chase’s baffling habit of quiet Week 1 efforts, but there is nothing to read in to it heading into Week 2. Chase will be a locked-and-loaded WR1 vs. an elite Texans defense smarting for a Week 1 collapse vs. Buffalo.

As is tradition, Burrow was far from his best in the Bengals’ season opener, providing as many scores for the Bucs as he did the Bengals via his third quarter pick-six. Bucs rookie LB Josiah Trotter simply read Burrow’s eyes the whole way. As is not tradition, Burrow did at least soundly out-play his Week 1 quarterback counterpart, as Baker Mayfield was a turnover-marred disaster. Burrow really struggled to find Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins vs. an undermanned Bucs secondary, but he compensated for hitting Mike Gesicki for 5/78/1. The touchdown was a goal-line dart where the tight end rolled in to the end zone. Burrow must now head on the road vs. a far-better Texans defense, though Houston just got shredded beyond recognition by Josh Allen on Sunday.

The Bengals would obviously prefer Stewart to be out there vs. the Bucs, but it’s an otherwise quiet list for the opener.

Turner popped up on Thursday’s injury report with the hamstring issue, but head coach Zac Taylor said the fourth-year corner will be good to go for Sunday’s game. Turner posted career highs in pass breakups (18) and interceptions (2) last season while earning a PFF coverage grade of 78.1. The Bengals will rely heavily on him in Week 1 to slow down Baker Mayfield and a revamped Buccaneers passing game. While Turner is healthy and good to go, Taylor said DE Shemar Stewart (knee) is doubtful, making him unlikely to play in Week 1.

Bengals HC Zac Taylor said Higgins and fellow receiver Ja’Marr Chase (knee) will both be good to go for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers. Higgins has been dealing with a heel/foot injury in recent weeks but will be on the field for the team’s season-opener. He profiles as a high-end WR2 in what is expected to be a high-scoring game to kick off the Bengals’ 2026 season.

Chase was a full participant in each of the Bengals’ first two practices to start the week and is good to go for Week 1, according to head coach Zac Taylor. Chase can be trusted as a high-end WR1 for fantasy players in a matchup against the Buccaneers that should be ripe for fantasy points.