However, fans will not get to see either of the quarterbacks who sit at the center of those ambitions. Caleb Williams will not play for Chicago, while Joe Burrow will also remain on the sideline for Cincinnati as both coaching staffs prioritize the regular season over preseason evaluation.

For the Bears, head coach Ben Johnson has decided not to expose Williams to unnecessary contact. The Bengals have taken an equally cautious approach with Burrow, with Zac Taylor opting to keep his franchise quarterback out of the remaining preseason games.

Why isn’t Caleb Williams playing for the Bears?

Caleb Williams’ absence is a decision made by Ben Johnson rather than a sign of a new injury concern. The Bears already know what their starting quarterback can do, and there is little benefit in putting their young star at risk in a preseason game.

Chicago’s coaching staff can instead use the matchup to evaluate the quarterbacks fighting for depth-chart positions. Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum and Miller Moss are expected to handle the quarterback duties as they continue competing for opportunities and roster spots. Bagent was sidelined during the team’s preparation for the game, which could create additional work for Keenum and Moss.

Why isn’t Joe Burrow playing for the Bengals?

Joe Burrow will also watch from the sideline, and Taylor has already made the decision that Cincinnati’s starters will not play in either of the team’s final two preseason games. That means Burrow will not see action against Chicago as the Bengals turn their attention toward preparing for the regular season.

The Bengals have plenty of reasons to be cautious with their franchise quarterback. Burrow missed much of the 2025 season after suffering a significant toe injury that required surgery, eventually returning late in the year. With Cincinnati hoping to compete for the Super Bowl, exposing him to unnecessary preseason contact would offer very little reward.

Taylor is also trying to avoid another slow start to the regular season, but that does not mean the Bengals need Burrow to play in August. The coaching staff can address timing, execution and preparation through practices while allowing the veteran quarterback to enter the regular season healthy.

Who will play quarterback for the Bears and Bengals?

With Williams unavailable, the Bears will rely on their backup options. Bagent, Keenum and Moss all have something to prove, making the game particularly important for players trying to secure their place on the final roster.

Keenum brings extensive NFL experience, while Bagent has already shown that he can operate Chicago’s offense in regular-season situations. Moss, meanwhile, is looking to make an impression as he competes for a place on the roster. Chicago’s 2026 preseason opener already showed the value of that depth, with Keenum throwing for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears’ 34-10 win over Cleveland.

Cincinnati will turn to Josh Johnson and veteran Joe Flacco. Flacco’s continued presence in the NFL remains one of the league’s more remarkable stories, and the 41-year-old quarterback continues to compete for opportunities despite having already enjoyed a lengthy career.

“I’m tired of saying ‘next year, next year, next year.’ This is it. Life is too short to keep pushing things down the road,” Burrow said following a joint practice with the Chicago Bears ahead of Saturday’s preseason clash.

As Burrow gears up for another preseason tune-up, he has made it clear that he isn’t just aiming for individual milestones, but setting a standard for the Bengals in 2026.

Cincinnati’s front office enters the season confident in a re-tooled roster, headlined by former New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence making immediate waves at Bengals camp. Now, it’s only a matter of time before they put that revamped lineup to the test in the regular season.

Chase backs Burrow’s ‘now or never’ mindset

Ja’Marr Chase also addressed the media prior to the preseason tilt against Chicago, forcefully echoing his quarterback’s urgent tone. “We just better f***ing protect Joe!” Chase said, emphasizing that the entire locker room is locked into Burrow’s championship mandate.

If Burrow and the Bengals hope to bring a Lombardi Trophy to Cincinnati, alignment across the roster will be essential. With Chase and the core veterans fully bought into Burrow’s vision, anticipation among the fanbase is at an all-time high.

Bengals’ key offseason additions for the 2026 campaign

To evaluate whether a Super Bowl run is realistic for Cincinnati this year, let’s break down the notable offseason arrivals and departures shaping the 2026 roster:

• New additions
  • Dexter Lawrence II (DT)
  • Boye Mafe (EDGE)
  • Jonathan Allen (DT)
  • Bryan Cook (S)
  • Kyle Dugger (S)
  • Ja’Sir Taylor (CB)
  • Joe Flacco (QB) – Re-signed as Joe Burrow’s backup
  • Josh Johnson (QB)
• Departures
  • Trey Hendrickson (EDGE) – Signed with the Baltimore Ravens
  • Cam Taylor-Britt (CB) – Signed with the Indianapolis Colts
  • Geno Stone (S) – Signed with the Buffalo Bills
  • Joseph Ossai (DE) – Signed with the New York Jets
  • Jake Browning (QB) – Signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Lucas Patrick (G) – Signed with the New York Giants
  • Cordell Volson (G) – Signed with the Tennessee Titans
  • Tycen Anderson (S) – Signed with the Denver Broncos
  • Marco Wilson (CB) – Signed with the Miami Dolphins

“It won’t be a ton of time, but for our fans to come out there, they’re going to see Joe, Ja’Marr, and Tee. They’re going to see Dexter,” the head coach said during his press conference. “So, they’ll get a chance to enjoy some of our players there. But how long I keep them out there remains to be seen.”

Three other quarterbacks are waiting for their opportunity behind Burrow this season: veteran Joe Flacco, who joined the team midway through last season; rookie Josh Johnson; and, finally, Sean Clifford.

Burrow aims to stay healthy this time around

During 2025, Joe Burrow suffered a severe Grade 3 turf toe injury in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, requiring surgery to repair torn ligaments in his foot. The injury kept him sidelined for nine games—forcing him to miss Weeks 3 through 12—before he was finally cleared to return to action in Week 13.

Heading into 2026, Burrow will look to stay healthy starting from Week 1 by relying on improved pocket management, quicker pass release times, and stronger protection from his offensive line to minimize unnecessary hits and complete a full 17-game campaign.

The Bengals’ 2026 Preseason games

Joe Burrow and his Bengals kick off their 2026 preseason campaign tonight, August 13, at Paycor Stadium against the Detroit Lions. They will remain at home for their second exhibition game when they host the Chicago Bears on Saturday, August 22, before wrapping up their preseason schedule on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, August 28.

Via his legal team, Daniels’ cease-and-desist letter demands LSU stops using the QB’s name, image, and likeness (NIL). Reports also state that Daniels feels “disrespected” that he is not talked about in the same breath as Joe Burrow, another LSU legend.

This all comes from the fact that LSU gave the No. 5 jersey to cornerback DJ Pickett. Daniels used that jersey number at LSU, and this prompted an ill-feeling from Daniels’ side.

Jayden Daniels vs Joe Burrow LSU stats

For Daniels to be saying he should be in the same breath as Burrow is a bit rich. While both won a Heisman Trophy, their legacies are not even close. LSU didn’t win with Jayden Daniels at the helm. They ended the regular season 9-3 and didn’t even qualify to the College Football Playoff.

Meanwhile, Burrow had arguably the best College Football season ever for a quarterback, guided the Tigers to an undefeated 15-0 season while throwing for 5,671 yards, 60 passing touchdowns, just six interceptions on 76.3% completion, and of course, the National Championship title. That’s why Burrow’s No.9 jersey is retired. He brought accolades to him, but also to the program.

Does Daniels have a chance at winning this?

There are two ways of seeing this: first, in actual court. Second, in the eye of the public. In actual court, there is a way that Daniels’ arguments hold, as his contract states LSU was only authorized to use his NIL for 180 days after his final college game. Publicly, this has not been well-received. Daniels’ priority should be bouncing back from a sophomore slump.

However, this all stems from giving the No.5 jersey to another player. That can’t be changed with the cease-and-desist letter. Legally, a university owns its jersey numbers, team uniforms, and intellectual property. Hence, if they decide to not retire the jersey, they can assign it to any player they choose, in this case, DJ Pickett.

“He was a lot of fun to watch,” Burrow said during a Heisman Trophy panel at Fanatics Fest. “I think the NIL era is interesting because teams like Indiana, who maybe couldn’t get the recruits 10 years ago, now can get the types of players where they can go and compete for championships.”

While the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback believes this type of evolution has helped programs with fewer resources emerge as contenders, he also emphasized that Mendoza’s talent was the key factor in ultimately winning the national championship.

“That creates a lot of parity throughout college football, and I think that’s good for the game,” Burrow also added. “There are a lot of downsides to it as well, but it was fun to see a team like Indiana go and make it happen. Obviously, Fernando was the main part of that.”

Mendoza’s great year at Indiana

During a legendary 2025 season with the Indiana Hoosiers, quarterback Fernando Mendoza delivered a historic campaign, throwing for 3,850 passing yards and 38 touchdowns to cap off a brilliant year and claim the prestigious Heisman Trophy. Mendoza led Indiana to a perfect, undefeated record, crowning their flawless season by winning the National Championship in a thrilling 27–21 victory in the final over the Miami Hurricanes.

Burrow’s Heisman experience

In 2019, Joe Burrow delivered one of the most dominant individual seasons in college football history while playing for the LSU Tigers, capping off his incredible performance by winning the Heisman Trophy in a landslide vote. Shortly after leading LSU to an undefeated National Championship victory, Burrow officially made the jump to the NFL when he was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2020 NFL Draft.

From College Football to the NFL

There are countless cases in which a player’s rookie year proves to be a defining moment. The leadership Fernando Mendoza brings with him could be crucial for the Las Vegas Raiders, and Burrow knows that this could help him succeed.

“The quarterback has the ball in their hands a lot,” Burrow said. “It’s a team game, but the quarterback drives that for us. He seems to be a great leader. He seems to be a great player, and I’m excited to see what he does in the NFL as well.”

According to Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated, Brian Parker might play an immediate role for the Bengals. “The Cincinnati Bengals have needed improvements across the interior of their offensive line for years. [Parker] plays the center position with impressive technique and solid grip strength. Parker should make a successful transition from offensive tackle to interior blocker,” Melo said.

The Bengals will return all five starters from last season. This is the first time Joe Burrow will have a known O-line from the get-go. Still, Parker could slide right in as a center or guard. It’s likely that he plays a depth role at the beginning, but with hopes of getting starting reps along the season.

The Bengals O-line is looking good

Sophomore guard Dylan Fairchild was great during his rookie season. Dalton Risner was solid at right guard, and veteran Ted Karras is a rock-solid center. However, Karras might leave next year, so Parker being a good center already could definitely help his stock.

The Bengals must transform one of their most glaring weaknesses into one of their biggest strengths, and it all looks like they are doing it. At least on paper, the O-line should be much improved in the 2026 NFL season.

The Bengals have addressed the other huge weakness on the roster

More than the O-line, the real problem with the Bengals was the defense. They acquired elite DT Dexter Lawrence, also DE Cashius Howell, and DT Jonathan Allen. In terms of free agency, they signed safety Bryan Cook, DE Boye Mafe, safety Kyle Dugger, and cornerback Jalen Taylor.

Al Golden is a highly respected defensive coordinator thanks to his technical knowledge and player development, though his 2025 debut campaign in the NFL was rough. He has been given the benefit of the doubt this season, but things must improve massively with all these new talent.

Burrow appeared in a press conference on Wednesday, and he was asked if he’s targeting any individual accolades. It seems like the quarterback already had that question in mind as he was quick to reply. “I’m pretty close to the Bengals franchise touchdown record. I’m like 50 or something away, so that would be nice to break this year,” Burrow said.

And Burrow is actually closer, he is not 50 TD passes away, he is 47 away to tie Andy Dalton’s record with the Bengals. However, tying it this year is a tough feat. For instance, his personal record is 43 touchdown passes in a single season. He would have to break his own record, but he is not afraid of challenges.

Burrow wants all the glory with the Cincinnati Bengals

While it might seem selfish to focus on individual accolades, the fact is that if Burrow throws for 47+ touchdowns in a year, the Bengals will clearly benefit. Also, that was an isolated question, Burrow also said the Bengals have “everything (they) need” to contend for a Super Bowl once again.

Burrow has had a Super Bowl experience before, as they lost in 2021 to the Los Angeles Rams. However, he is more confident in the roster the team has now. In fact, Burrow said this is the best roster the Bengals have had since he is in the NFL. Major words from a major player with major expectations.

The Bengals have a big opportunity to make a splash

Not only is the roster looking pretty solid, with a high-octane offense and a revamped defense, but the AFC North is there for the taking. The Baltimore Ravens are entering a new era with rookie head coach Jesse Minter and new offensive coordinator as well.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering a new chapter with Mike McCarthy as HC, on Aaron Rodgers’ farewell season. Finally, the Browns are also getting a new HC in rookie Todd Monken, and don’t even have established a QB1, not to mention they lost defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. The Bengals should run away with the division.

In recent weeks, the Bengals made several signings that shocked the NFL, including high-profile additions like Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen. Following these moves, Burrow has hinted that Cincinnati won’t make another big move this offseason.

“They’re going to keep getting great players to come play for the Bengals, and when they do that, then it’s my job and Zac (Taylor)’s job and the leaders of this team to bring the locker room together and then go execute on the field,” Burrow said, via the team’s official website. “We have everything we need.

“We made a big trade for a big-time player. Signed a free agent top safety on the market, and other additions. We’ll see how the rookies end up. … But first impressions, we’ve got guys that care about the game, care about their job, and want to be great. When you have young guys like that and veterans like we do, it’s a recipe for success.”

The Bengals have a solid roster to compete for the AFC North

The AFC North is currently one of the most intriguing divisions in the NFL. The Ravens, Steelers, and Browns will all have new head coaches, and the Bengals must take full advantage of this transition period.

Zac Taylor has faced criticism for failing to guide the Bengals back to success after their impressive run in 2021. Now that the other three teams have changed head coaches, this is his chance to leverage his deep familiarity with the AFC North and dominate the division.

However, one vital question mark remains: Joe Burrow’s health. The quarterback has historically lacked a dominant offensive line to keep him safe, a factor that is critical to sustaining a reliable offense led by an elite signal-caller.

According to Jordan Schultz, the Bengals will have their first seven games of the season all kicking off at 1:00 pm ET. They’r not even playing in the late window. Per Schultz, “No primetime love from the NFL until Weeks 10 and 11 with the Steelers on SNF and then the Commanders on MNF.“

Last year, the Bengals first primetime game was in Week 4, with another in Week 7, followed by Week 13 and Week 16 stand-alone games as well. However, this time around they’ll have to wait until late in the season.

This might not play in Bengals’ favor

The Bengals are usually slow starters, so that might be the reasoning for the NFL to schedule the Bengals’ primetime games until late in the season. However, as blockbuster as he is, Burrow is injury prone, so they are also risking that Burrow is not even there at that point in the season.

Burrow only played eight games in 2025. In fact, he’s only played 17 games once in his career. Therefore, it’s complicated to predict whether he will be healthy or not for the time where the primetime games arrive.

The Bengals face a lot of pressure this season

Having Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, among many other top-tier players makes it unacceptable to miss the playoffs. However, that’s what the Bengals have done more times than other.

Hence, head coach Zac Taylor is under immense pressure. If they can’t make it into the playoffs, he is likely to get fired sooner rather than later. With a heavy offseason, the Bengals should be poised for success.

“I think I would be surprised, but prepared for it, if that’s what they choose to do to us for the fifth straight year,” Zac Taylor said while awaiting the release of the schedule on Thursday. It is clear that the coach wants to bring this game to Cincinnati this season.

On November 25, 2025, during Thanksgiving, the Bengals managed to secure a 32-14 victory at M&T Bank Stadium, snapping a three-game losing streak in primetime against the Ravens. Will the league finally grant them a divisional classic in 2026 at The Jungle?

Bengals look for a revamped and healthy season

Bengals finished the 2025-26 season with a disappointing 6–11 record. A major factor in this outcome was once again the health of Joe Burrow, who missed a significant portion of the season due to a severe Grade 3 turf toe injury and ligament damage suffered in Week 2, which ultimately required surgery.

Heading into the 2026 season, Burrow’s primary focus is on durability and staying on the field, especially after a grueling stretch of recent setbacks that include a torn wrist ligament in 2023 and a strained calf that hampered his early performance that same year.

Confirmed opponents for the Bengals in 2026

After a disappointing season, all efforts are focused on turning things around immediately. Although the exact dates are still unknown, the Cincinnati Bengals already know their opponents, and their trips away from Paycor Stadium look promising for what lies ahead.

The Pittsburgh Steelers brought in Michael Pittman, but were very interested in landing Makai Lemon in the draft, before being railroaded by the Eagles. Hence, when Hopkins spoke about joining an AFC North, they could’ve been the answer.

In an express interview with Sports Illustrated, Hopkins was asked about which quarterback he would want to play next. “Joe Burrow,” Hopkins said. “I think Joe is one of the best, I love his game, his toughness. He took his team to a Super Bowl early in his career, and I feel like he can get back there with a little bit of help.”

Hopkins would play a tertiary role on the Bengals

While Hopkins may want to play with Burrow, he wouldn’t be much of a protagonist. The fact is Burrow’s first two options will always be Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Hopkins would serve as a situational weapon for third downs, or in the end zone, where he can still be a highly-productive player.

Burrow and Hopkins played great together in the latest Fanatics Flag Football event. They got a couple of highlights in that game, so there is a connection already. However, the Bengals don’t see WRs as a priority, they have the position settled.

Hopkins options are slim

Once arguably the best wideout in the NFL, Hopkins is 33 years old and racked up only 330 yards on 22 catches for the Ravens in 2025. While he will be a cheap option, he is also looking for a Super Bowl-ready team, and those teams might not prioritize getting Hopkins.

Hence, not many teams are rushing to get D-Hop on their roster. A return to the Ravens now seems unlikely, as the team drafted both Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt. The Pittsburgh Steelers probably didn’t like D-Hop flirting with the Bengals either. Hence, it remains to be seen where he’ll end up.