The Cincinnati Bengals are the subject of much outside speculation with the NFL trade deadline on approach because it would seem to make sense that, at 3-3, the team might want to make a move to help guarantee the season is a success.
Beyond the usual trade deadline musings, though, is the high-profile showdown with the San Francisco 49ers that happens this weekend.
The Bengals enter that one off a bye, while the 49ers will do so on a short week and losers of two in a row, fueling plenty of interesting game-week storylines.
Here’s a look at the must-know Bengals news, notes and quotes for October 25.
Time for Bengals to buy at deadline -- Bengals Wire
Now is the time for the Bengals to break the mold and actually act as buyers at the deadline. It doesn’t have to be anything blockbuster — but even getting help at running back or tight end might change the course of the season.
Fans debate the trade deadline -- Bengals Wire
Plenty of fans and media have interesting thoughts on this situation, especially when it comes to exactly what the Bengals might want to target at the deadline and why.
AFC North standings update -- Bengals Wire
It’s not pretty for the Bengals coming out of a weekend in which every other team in the division picked up wins while the Bengals rested on a bye.
Power rankings update -- Bengals Wire
It’s a minor thing, but the Bengals emerge with a borderline top 10 spot in the power rankings despite not even playing last week. The jump if they beat the 49ers should be rather large.
Hayden Hurst available? -- Bengals Wire
Former Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst might be shopped by Carolina at the tradeline, so we dug into how much it would cost, what his contract looks like and whether the Bengals should try to get him back.
Bengals steady in power rankings -- B/R
B/R keeps the Bengals at 10, though highlights the offensive woes: “An argument can be made that the Bengals are fortunate to hitting their bye week a .500 football team. Because frankly, Cincinnati’s offense has been awful. They entered Week 7 with the worst offense in the NFL in terms of yards per game.”
Bengals climb one spot -- NFL.com
Despite not playing, the Bengals actually climb a single spot to No. 12 here: “The bad news is that the personnel is arguably worse. Joe Mixon can’t make people miss this year, and the Bengals have yet to identify an effective RB2. I know Joe Burrow’s at his best out of the shotgun, but it’s worth asking why the Bengals have seven under-center snaps in six games after logging more than 200 a year ago.”
Bengals fall one spot -- ESPN
ESPN highlights rookie DJ Turner as a young riser to know: “He has allowed just four receptions on 16 targets as the nearest defender, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Turner boasts an 81.3% coverage success rate and a minus-15.9 expected points added when targeted.”
Bengals struggling at No. 18 -- PFT
A short and sweet comment that stresses the importance of next weekend on the rankings: “18. Bengals (3-3, No. 18): Sunday’s rematch of Super Bowl XVI and XXIII becomes a huge game for both teams.”
