CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Bengals will open 2024 training camp with veterans reporting Tuesday to the team's headquarters in downtown Cincinnati.
Here's a closer look at a few storylines:
Biggest question: Can the offense be more dynamic?
Cincinnati's run to the Super Bowl in 2021 was fueled by big plays. At the time, defenses didn't fully comprehend how potent Ja'Marr Chase could be and allowed Joe Burrow the windows to push the ball downfield. Those have dried up in recent years. Since the start of the 2022 season, the Bengals rank 24th in the league in completions of 20 or more air yards, according to ESPN Stats & Information. And last season the Bengals were last in air yards per attempt (6.1).
New offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher, who was promoted to replace now-Titans head coach Brian Callahan, will be tasked with helping head coach Zac Taylor build a more explosive offense. The addition of Zack Moss, who specialized in rushing effectively out of shotgun formations, could also help soften the defense for those big passing plays. And of course, it will all hinge on Burrow's health and effectiveness after a season-ending right wrist injury he suffered last year.
The most compelling position battle: Slot receiver
This is the biggest question heading into training camp, as Cincinnati looks for Tyler Boyd's replacement. Veteran Trenton Irwin has built a connection with Burrow over the years that has allowed him to step in and be productive when others were injured. Irwin has played on the inside and outside and is comfortable in either position. But rookie Jermaine Burton, a third-round pick out of Alabama, could be in contention, along with Charlie Jones, last year's fourth-round pick out of Purdue.
The arrival of tight end Mike Gesicki and the potential increase of two-TE sets does lower the stakes a touch compared with previous years. But given how often the Bengals employ three wide receivers in offensive formations, this camp battle will have a major impact on the season.
The player with the most to prove: Dax Hill
The 2022 first-round pick is already showing an impressive amount of resolve. It was no secret that the experiment of Hill at free safety did not go well. Cincinnati moved him to outside cornerback to compete for one of the starting spots. By the end of the team's offseason program, he was penciled in as a starter alongside Cam Taylor-Britt.
But Hill will need to carry that momentum into training camp, where he will have to cement his role. If Hill is able to play well enough to be a quality starter, it will be a massive lift for him. Last season, opponents had an 8.4% completion percentage over expectation when Hill was targeted as the nearest defender, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That was the seventh-highest rate among all safeties last season.
Training camp is a success if ... Burrow is healthy.
This shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. Burrow has been injured to start each of the past three seasons. Two of those ailments occurred in training camp. In 2022, he suffered a ruptured appendix that required hospitalization. One year later, a strained calf muscle was a setback that forced him to miss five weeks.
This year, Burrow has prioritized being healthy for the latter portion of the season and not pushing himself too early. That is especially important with Burrow coming off surgery to repair his right wrist, something that was already receiving preventive care by the end of the team's offseason workouts. How he looks throughout camp and his ability to take contact and throw without discomfort will dictate whether the Bengals had a good training camp.
Most impactful offseason addition: Vonn Bell
Rarely is adding a veteran who was just cut by another team after one year a team's biggest move. But the evidence is in the numbers. Last season, Cincinnati allowed the most yards per attempt (8.1) in the NFL. Much of that stemmed from not only an ineffective safety combination but a lack of communication after Bell departed in 2023 to sign with the Carolina Panthers.
Now that he's back, an improvement in that department is already noticeable. Whether it's the rapport among defensive backs in the locker room or being able to hear his voice cut through the noise at practice, Bell's presence on the field is making a significant impact. The ninth-year player out of Ohio State will also help Jordan Battle's development. The 2023 third-round pick out of Alabama had some flashes as a rookie and could become a solid defensive player for the Bengals.