Bengals News (8/20): What are the odds?

Joe Burrow learned his cool demeanor after going through the rigors of Ohio State Buckeyes football.
"He not only had to do it once, I think he had to do it twice," says Fickell, then one of the Buckeyes' defensive coordinators. "That's the defense's show. Especially some of those days when you have fans or students there, it gets pretty wild. Anybody that can handle that, I would have taken him on defense, I can tell you that."

Cincinnati Bengals Camp Notebook: An edgy change on defense.
Whether it's tackle Mike Daniels snarling at offensive linemen or nose man D.J. Reader needling running back Joe Mixon after a stop or free safety Vonn Bell decking Giovani Bernard on a pop that crackled over the middle, the defense that has given up the most rushing yards in the NFL the last three seasons isn't backing down.

Loss of Trae Waynes only adds to challenge of improving Bengals' defense
The Bengals will have to figure out how to handle life without Waynes for the foreseeable future. Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Tuesday it was "too early to tell" if Waynes will be able to play at some point in 2020.

Bengals' Joe Burrow still learning, but don't call him nervous
Burrow said he feels confident about being ready for Week 1 and comfortable with the offense through the first weeks of the training camp. The top overall pick in the NFL draft also said he felt excited, not nervous, about the challenge of starting his new job as Cincinnati's next franchise quarterback.

Bengals free-agent options after Renell Wren, Shawn Williams injuries
Cincinnati Bengals training camp has featured a rash of injuries already, including notable ones suffered by Renell Wren, Shawn Williams and to a lesser extent, Trae Waynes.

Against all odds: Cincinnati Bengals betting preview
According to Oddschecker, the Bengals are +3.5 point underdogs in their home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. They also have the Bengals at +155 to win the game. To win the AFC North, an uphill battle, the Bengals are placed at +3000 odds, making them the longest odds in the division. The Bengals are the fifteenth favorite to win the AFC, coming in at +4000 odds, only behind the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Bengals CB Jackson hopes being healthy and having fun again leads to big deal after 2020
After missing his entire rookie season in 2016 due to an injury, Bengals cornerback William Jackson III burst onto the scene in the third game of the 2017 season by stepping front of a pass by Green Bay Packers cornerback Aaron Rodgers and racing 75 yards for a touchdown that seemed to be the starting point for what might just be a brilliant career. Only it wasn't.

Around the league

NFL Power Rankings: Seahawks early risers in training camp
Players have emerged from their COVID-19 testing stations to put on helmets and pads. We have actual competition on football fields across our fair country! This feels like the perfect time to check in with the Big 32 in our latest edition of the Power Rankings.

NFL considering postseason bubble upon suggestion from Sean Payton
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers asked during an NFLPA conference call last month about a player testing positive during Super Bowl week. Instituting a bubble for the playoffs could be a method to ensure the fairest postseason for all teams. We've seen the NBA and NHL have great success with the bubbles they've created to conduct their postseason competitions.

McDermott: Skepticism of Josh Allen 'understandable' until Bills QB 'able to silence that'
The Bills have a playoff-ready roster if the young quarterback continues to progress into a bona fide playmaker. Buffalo spent the offseason buffering the QB further to ensure he's in the best possible position to succeed, including trading for star receiver Stefon Diggs.

Greg Olsen enters first season with Seahawks with 'things to prove'
After nine seasons in Carolina, the three-time Pro Bowler headed to the opposite coast in hopes of chasing down an elusive Super Bowl ring. He played 14 games in 2019 but missed a combined 16 games the previous two years due to injury. He told 710 ESPN Seattle that being banged up isn't how Olsen wanted to end his career.