On July 31, 2025, the Cincinnati Bengals hosted their second indoor training camp session, marking a notable day in the early stages of camp. The headline: veteran tight end Noah Fant officially signed with Cincinnati, a move head coach Zac Taylor hailed as “exciting” and a clear enhancement to an already deep tight end room.
Fant joins a position group led by Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample. Taylor described the signing as adding explosiveness and toughness to the offense—a signal that Fant is expected to play a meaningful role, likely as a backup but potentially more depending on camp performance.
Defensively, the Bengals made a statement. Cornerback DJ Turner, who had experienced a sluggish start to camp, delivered a standout performance with at least five pass breakups against top-tier receivers like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, earning Player of the Day honors according to the team recap. Turner’s resurgence came as welcome news for a secondary that struggled through much of last season.
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On the same day, rookie linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. and safety Dax Hill teamed up to intercept a Joe Burrow pass intended for Chase—another highlight in a day largely dominated by defensive play.
Meanwhile, on the offensive line, Amarius Mims was absent from practice, prompting rookie Jalen Rivers to step in and take first‑team reps at right tackle. That shift could signal a meaningful opportunity in the offensive line pecking order as camp progresses.
Overall, Thursday’s indoor session underscored a growing narrative at Cincinnati: defensive youth pushing back against offensive continuity, and a veteran addition in Fant greasing the wheels of an experienced passing attack. With rookies making splash plays and Fant joining to potentially upgrade the tight end rotation, the mix of youth and experience is already shaping up as a defining feature of the Bengals’ training camp.
