Bengals Defensive Front Showed Great QB Pressure in First Half of Preseason Opener

Cincinnati Bengals football is back! The 2024 NFL season is officially here as the Bengals first preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is underway.

The first half didn't have a ton of scoring as the teams headed to the locker room tied at seven. This was due to the impressive defensive play by the Bengals. To end the final drive of the half for the Buccaneers offense, the Bengals brought five and quickly broke up the pocket to get to Quarterback Kyle Trask . Both Jeff Gunter and Shaka Heyward were awarded with the sack to end the drive.

Gunter, played ten games for the Bengals during the 2022 season where he recorded only one tackle. He spent the entire 2023 season on the team's practice squad.

Heyward also spent all of 2023 on the Bengals practice squad after signing with the team as an un-drafted free agent. (UDFA) out of Duke University.

This is the first preseason game for the Cincinnati Bengals against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday. The team will play two more before they must cut the roster to 53 players in preparation for Week 1 of the NFL Regular season. The Bengals will open the year at home at Paycor Stadium against the New England Patriots on September 8th at 1 PM EST.

Although starters won’t play much in the first preseason game on Saturday, it will be the first time fans will get a look at a healthy Joe Burrow since the Bengals Quarterback injured his wrist in Week 11 of the 2023 NFL season. He was ruled out for the remainder of the season for wrist surgery after the injury.

The Bengals will look to improve from last season as they missed the NFL playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season. They finished last in the AFC North with a 9-8 record.

Be sure to stay up to date with All Bengals to catch more highlights and analysis from Saturday’s Preseason opener.