Bengals’ offseason program to be way behind rest of NFL

The Cincinnati Bengals are making a strategic, yet risky choice as they set their schedule for offseason workouts.

The Bengals will not begin their offseason program until May 2, well after the remainder of the league. Several teams will start their programs on April 4, while the majority of the league will start theirs on either April 18 or 19. The Philadelphia Eagles, who have set their program for April 25, are the only team other than the Bengals to begin after April 19.

According to Albert Breer of The MMQB, the bengals made the choice in part as an acknowledgement of the team’s trip to the Super Bowl, as well as the fact that they wound up playing a 21-game season.

The Bengals will start their off-season program on May 2, way after most of the NFL. Why?

• They just played the longest season in league history (21 games).

• They want coaches focused on the draft for now.

• Everyone will be locked in, and together, come May.

(1/2)

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 1, 2022

The offseason programs are largely voluntary and will primarily consist of strength and conditioning work, on-field drills, and some non-contact practices. In other words, there is no guarantee that veteran players will be there anyway no matter what the scheduled start date is. For that reason alone, this probably won’t be a huge deal. If anything, players will appreciate the extra rest on the back of their 2021 season.

Cincinnati has made some big offseason additions, and Joe Burrow is not the type to get complacent. They should be just fine despite the late start.

Photo: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) walks the sideline in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 12 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. The Bengals beat the Steelers 41-10.
Pittsburgh Steelers At Cincinnati Bengals