CINCINNATI — Bengals head coach Zac Taylor made it clear that Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and the rest of the healthy starters will play in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Eagles. The Bengals want to get off to a faster start this season—and they believe more preseason reps for their stars are going to help them get there.

Bengals general manager Duke Tobin said earlier in the offseason that he believes the team can still "outscore anybody," with depth additions made in free agency and the draft as a buffer for key injuries, but Burrow’s health and in‐game reps will remain pivotal.

The Cincinnati Bengals changed things up this preseason in an effort to avoid yet another slow start in 2025. Among those changes is coach Zac Taylor's decision to play quarterback Joe Burrow and the rest of the team's healthy starters in the preseason,