Injury Precautions Implemented to Protect the Cincinnati Bengals Players

In the high-impact world of the NFL, injuries can derail a team’s season in an instant—and for the Cincinnati Bengals, the lessons of past seasons (where key players like Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase missed time with injuries) have led to a sweeping overhaul of injury prevention protocols. In 2024, the Bengals front office, coaching staff, and medical team collaborated to implement targeted precautions: from data-driven training adjustments to advanced recovery tools, all designed to reduce injury risk while keeping players in peak condition. These measures aren’t just reactive; they’re proactive, addressing everything from muscle strains to joint stress that often plague NFL players. Injury Precautions Implemented to Protect the Cincinnati Bengals Players explores the core precautions the team has put in place, how they’ve adapted to players’ unique needs, and why they’ve become essential to the Bengals’ pursuit of an AFC North title.

The Bengals’ first line of injury defense comes in reimagined training sessions, where data from wearable technology guides intensity and volume to avoid overtraining. Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all practices; now, each player wears a GPS tracker and heart rate monitor that feeds real-time data to the medical team. For example, if a player’s tracker shows their exertion level is 15ove their weekly average, coaches adjust their reps mid-practice to prevent fatigue-related injuries. The team also added “active recovery days” twice a week—replacing high-intensity drills with low-impact activities like swimming or yoga—to reduce muscle soreness. This shift has paid off: through Week 14, the Bengals have seen a 30% drop in soft-tissue injuries (like hamstring strains) compared to 2023. “We’re no longer guessing about when a player is at risk—we have data to back every decision,” said Bengals head athletic trainer Paul Sparling. Injury Precautions Implemented to Protect the Cincinnati Bengals Players notes that this data-driven approach has been especially impactful for veterans like defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who has stayed healthy all season after missing three games with a calf strain last year.

Another critical precaution is enhanced pre-practice and pre-game warmups, tailored to address the specific movement needs of each position group. Instead of generic stretching routines, the Bengals now have position-specific warmups designed by their sports science team. Offensive linemen, who rely heavily on hip and shoulder mobility, do dynamic drills like lateral shuffles and banded shoulder stretches to loosen those areas. Skill players, meanwhile, focus on quickness and agility drills—like ladder runs and cone drills—to activate muscles used for cutting and accelerating. Before games, the team also added a 10-minute “neuromuscular activation” segment, where players use resistance bands and light weights to fire up muscles that often stay dormant during pre-game routines. The results are clear: in 2024, the Bengals have had zero non-contact injuries during warmups, compared to three in 2023. “These warmups aren’t just about getting loose—they’re about preparing the body for the specific demands of the game,” said Bengals strength and conditioning coach Joey Boese. Injury Precautions Implemented to Protect the Cincinnati Bengals Players emphasizes that this attention to position-specific needs has reduced the “surprise” injuries that often derail momentum early in games.

For the Cincinnati Bengals, a key precaution lies in advanced post-game recovery protocols, which use cutting-edge technology to speed muscle repair and reduce inflammation. The team’s locker room now features three cryotherapy chambers, where players can sit for 3-5 minutes after games to lower their core temperature and reduce muscle soreness. They also added compression therapy boots—used by 90% of the team—that apply pulsed pressure to legs to improve blood flow and flush out lactic acid. For players recovering from minor injuries, the medical team uses red-light therapy to stimulate cell repair, cutting recovery time for strains by an average of 2-3 days. Quarterback Joe Burrow, who has a history of knee injuries, uses a custom recovery plan that includes daily foam rolling sessions with a physical therapist and a sleep tracking app to ensure he gets 8+ hours of rest (critical for tissue repair). “The recovery tools here are game-changing,” Burrow said in a recent interview. “I feel fresher on Mondays, and that translates to better performance on Sundays.” For the Cincinnati Bengals, these recovery precautions have not only reduced injury recurrence but also kept players more consistent week-to-week—critical in a long, grueling NFL season. Injury Precautions Implemented to Protect the Cincinnati Bengals Players explores how this investment in recovery has become a competitive advantage, allowing the Bengals to field their best lineup more often.

The Cincinnati Bengals have also implemented position-specific injury prevention programs, addressing the unique risks faced by players in high-impact roles. For example, running backs—who face constant hits to the lower body—participate in a weekly “ankle stability” program, which includes balance drills and resistance band exercises to strengthen the ligaments around the ankle. Defensive backs, who often suffer from shoulder injuries due to tackling, do twice-weekly shoulder strengthening drills using medicine balls and cable machines. The team even worked with a biomechanics expert to adjust offensive linemen’s stance during blocking drills, reducing the stress on their knees by 20%. This targeted approach has paid dividends: running back Chase Brown, a rookie, has avoided the ankle sprains that often plague first-year rushers, while defensive back Mike Hilton has stayed healthy after missing four games with a shoulder injury in 2023. “Every position has different risks, so our precautions need to be different too,” Sparling explained. For the Cincinnati Bengals, these position-specific programs have filled gaps in their overall prevention strategy, ensuring no player is left vulnerable to role-related injuries. Injury Precautions Implemented to Protect the Cincinnati Bengals Players notes that this level of detail has made the team’s injury prevention efforts more effective than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Finally, the Bengals have prioritized player education as a core precaution, ensuring every athlete understands how to recognize early injury signs and take proactive steps to stay healthy. The medical team hosts monthly “injury awareness” meetings, where they teach players to identify subtle symptoms—like persistent muscle tightness or joint stiffness—that often precede more serious injuries. They also provide each player with a custom “injury risk checklist” to fill out daily, asking questions about pain levels and sleep quality. If a player flags a concern, the medical team addresses it immediately—whether with a modified practice load or a physical therapy session—before it escalates. Linebacker Logan Wilson, who once played through a minor hamstring strain that turned into a two-week injury, now says he’s quick to report any discomfort. “The team taught me that speaking up early isn’t weak—it’s smart,” Wilson said. “It keeps me on the field for my teammates.” For the Cincinnati Bengals, this focus on education has created a culture where injury prevention is a shared responsibility, not just the medical team’s job. Injury Precautions Implemented to Protect the Cincinnati Bengals Players concludes that these precautions—data-driven, position-specific, and player-centered—have transformed the Bengals’ approach to health. As the team pushes for a playoff spot, keeping their key players healthy will be critical—and the precautions they’ve implemented give them the best chance to do just that.