The Bengals Have 5 Players You NEED To Watch Thursday Night...

The Cincinnati Bengals open the 2026 preseason against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night, and while Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and the Bengals' stars will get plenty of attention, some of the most important performances could come after the starters leave the field. John Sheeran breaks down five Bengals players he'll be watching closely against Detroit, starting with one of the biggest surprises of Cincinnati Bengals training camp: wide receiver Dohnte Meyers. Meyers has continued to make plays throughout camp after taking an unconventional path to Cincinnati through the CFL. Now comes the real test. Can he translate that training camp momentum into preseason production and make a legitimate push for one of the Bengals' final wide receiver spots? Rookie tight end Jack Endries is another player with plenty at stake. Cincinnati has a crowded tight end room, and Endries hasn't generated the same training camp buzz as some other Bengals rookies. His versatility, blocking ability and similarities to Erick All Jr.'s role could still give him a path to the roster, but the preseason represents a major opportunity to prove his value. John also takes a closer look at rookie offensive lineman Brian Parker II. The sixth-round pick has worked at multiple positions during Bengals training camp, including both guard spots, and Thursday will give us our best opportunity yet to evaluate how the former Duke offensive lineman handles NFL competition. Then there's Kris Jenkins Jr. Entering his third NFL season, Jenkins has received opportunities with Cincinnati's first-team defensive line during training camp. With the Bengals adding Dexter Lawrence II and Jonathan Allen this offseason, John explains why it's time to see whether Jenkins can take the developmental leap Cincinnati has been waiting for. Finally, Josh Newton enters the preseason facing legitimate roster pressure. After getting an opportunity with the first-team defense this week and making plays against Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, can Newton carry that momentum into Thursday night's game? With a crowded Bengals cornerback room, his preseason performance could determine whether he remains in Cincinnati. John Sheeran breaks down all five players, what they need to show against the Lions and why the most interesting part of the Bengals' preseason opener might begin after the biggest stars leave the field. 0:00 Bengals vs. Lions preseason opener 1:05 Why the backups matter most 1:59 Dohnte Meyers 3:44 Jack Endries 5:43 Brian Parker II 6:58 Kris Jenkins Jr. 8:54 Josh Newton 10:05 Bengals-Lions game preview A to Z Sports Cincinnati brings Bengals fans analysis, opinions, roster breakdowns, training camp coverage and reaction throughout the 2026 NFL season. Subscribe for more Cincinnati Bengals coverage and join us after Thursday night's preseason opener for immediate Bengals-Lions reaction and takeaways. #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #NFL #WhoDey Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: https://atozsports.com/games For more Bengals coverage: https://atozsports.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals-news/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BengalsFans4Life Twitter/X: https://x.com/AtoZSportsNFL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atozsportsbengals/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@atozsportsbengals #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball