Defensive Struggles Persist Amid Injuries for the Cincinnati Bengals

For the Cincinnati Bengals, a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the 2024 season has been defined by a painful paradox: their high-octane offense (led by Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase) continues to put up points, but their defense—plagued by a devastating string of injuries—has struggled to stop opponents. What began as a few key absences in Week 4 has snowballed into a crisis, with the Bengals losing six defensive starters to injuries ranging from ACL tears to high-ankle sprains. As a result, their once-stout defense has plummeted in critical NFL rankings: from 8th in points allowed per game in 2023 to 22nd in 2024, and from 10th in rushing yards allowed to 28th. These struggles aren’t just statistical—they’ve cost the Bengals winnable games, including a 34-31 overtime loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 10 where their defense surrendered a game-tying touchdown with 45 seconds left. Defensive Struggles Persist Amid Injuries for the Cincinnati Bengals explores the root causes of this decline, the impact of key injuries, and the uphill battle the team faces to fix their defense before the playoffs.

Defensive Struggles Persist Amid Injuries for the Cincinnati Bengals begins with the most damaging loss: middle linebacker Logan Wilson, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 4 against the Tennessee Titans. Wilson wasn’t just a starter—he was the “quarterback of the defense,” responsible for calling plays, covering tight ends in space, and stopping runners at the line of scrimmage. In 2023, he recorded 123 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 2 sacks, and his ability to read opposing offenses made the Bengals’ defense more disciplined and efficient. Without him, the Bengals have rotated three different linebackers into the middle—none of whom have been able to replicate his production. Rookie third-round pick Jaxson Kirkland, who has seen the most snaps in Wilson’s place, has struggled with missed tackles (12 in 8 games) and poor run fit, leading to opposing running backs averaging 5.2 yards per carry against the Bengals’ middle defense. “Logan was the glue that held our defense together,” said Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. “Losing him wasn’t just losing a player—it was losing our on-field leader. The guys stepping in are trying, but they don’t have the experience or the instincts he brings. That’s a huge gap to fill.”

Defensive Struggles Persist Amid Injuries for the Cincinnati Bengals shifts to the team’s pass-rush woes, which have been exacerbated by injuries to defensive ends Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. Hendrickson, a two-time Pro Bowler who led the Bengals with 14 sacks in 2023, missed four games in October with a high-ankle sprain, and has looked less explosive since his return—recording just 1 sack in his last five games. Hubbard, meanwhile, suffered a knee injury in Week 8 and has been limited to 25 snaps per game since, a far cry from his 60-snap average in 2023. Without their top two pass-rushers, the Bengals have struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks: they’ve recorded just 18 sacks in 12 games (tied for 24th in the NFL), down from 41 sacks in 2023. This lack of pressure has allowed quarterbacks to sit in the pocket and pick apart the Bengals’ secondary, with opposing passers completing 67% of their throws against Cincinnati—up from 61% last season. In a Week 12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Lamar Jackson had 3 seconds to throw on average, completing 71% of his passes for 185 yards and a touchdown. “Our pass rush is the engine of our defense,” Anarumo admitted. “When we can’t get to the quarterback, everything else falls apart. Trey and Sam are our best players there, and when they’re hurt or limited, it’s hard to generate any pressure. That’s been a killer for us.”

Defensive Struggles Persist Amid Injuries for the Cincinnati Bengals delves into the secondary’s struggles, which have been compounded by injuries to cornerbacks Cam Taylor-Britt and Mike Hilton. Taylor-Britt, the Bengals’ top cornerback, missed six games with a hamstring injury and has been inconsistent since returning—allowing a 75% completion rate when targeted. Hilton, a slot cornerback known for his physicality and run support, suffered a shoulder injury in Week 9 and has been unable to play in nickel packages, forcing the Bengals to use undrafted rookie DJ Turner in his place. Turner, while athletic, has been overwhelmed by slot receivers, allowing 10 catches for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns in his last three games. The result? The Bengals have surrendered 28 passing touchdowns in 12 games—tied for the most in the AFC—and have allowed 10 plays of 40+ yards, up from 5 in 2023. For the Cincinnati Bengals, a secondary that was once a strength has become a liability, especially in late-game situations. “Our corners are supposed to shut down the opponent’s top receivers,” said safety Jessie Bates III. “But with Cam and Mike hurt, we’re putting guys in positions they’re not ready for. It’s not their fault—they’re doing their best—but it’s hard to win when you can’t stop the pass.”

Defensive Struggles Persist Amid Injuries for the Cincinnati Bengals explores the team’s attempts to adjust, from signing free agents to changing defensive schemes. In November, the Bengals signed veteran linebacker K.J. Wright, a 10-year NFL veteran who played for the Seattle Seahawks and Las Vegas Raiders, to help fill the gap left by Wilson. They also shifted from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 in some packages, hoping to generate more pass rush from their linebackers. So far, these adjustments have had mixed results: Wright has recorded 25 tackles in four games but has struggled with the Bengals’ playbook, and the 3-4 scheme has led to more run defense issues—opposing teams rushed for 165 yards against the Bengals in Week 13. The Bengals have also tried to use more zone coverage to hide their secondary’s weaknesses, but this has allowed opposing receivers to find soft spots in the defense, leading to long drives and easy touchdowns. For the Cincinnati Bengals, the challenge is balancing short-term fixes with long-term stability—a difficult task in the middle of a playoff push. “We’re trying everything we can,” said head coach Zac Taylor. “We’re signing players, changing schemes, and practicing extra reps. But injuries take time to overcome, and we’re running out of time this season. We just have to keep fighting and hope our guys get healthy soon.”

Defensive Struggles Persist Amid Injuries for the Cincinnati Bengals wraps up with the impact of these struggles on the Bengals’ playoff hopes and their long-term outlook. Despite their defensive issues, the Bengals are still in the thick of the AFC North race at 9-3, thanks to their potent offense. But if their defense doesn’t improve, they’ll likely be one-and-done in the playoffs—especially if they face high-powered offenses like the Baltimore Ravens or Buffalo Bills. The Bengals’ front office has also been forced to rethink their offseason strategy, with more emphasis on signing depth players on defense and extending key players like Hendrickson and Bates to avoid future injury crises. For the Cincinnati Bengals, the 2024 season has been a reminder of how fragile NFL success can be—one or two injuries can turn a Super Bowl contender into a team fighting to stay afloat. “We know our defense isn’t good enough right now,” Burrow said in a recent press conference. “But we’re a team, and we’re going to fight together. Our offense will keep scoring, and we need our defense to step up. We still believe we can win the Super Bowl—we just have to fix these issues fast.” As the regular season winds down, all eyes will be on the Bengals’ defense: can they get healthy and find their form in time for the playoffs? Or will their injury-related struggles end their championship dreams once again? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: the Bengals’ defense is in crisis, and the clock is ticking.