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Instant Reaction: Cincinnati Bengals Don't Address Defense Ahead of Trade Deadline

The Bengals are 4-5 this season.

James Rapien

Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks on from the sideline in the second quarter of the NFL Week 5 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. The Bengals led 17-14 at halftime.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks on from the sideline in the second quarter of the NFL Week 5 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. The Bengals led 17-14 at halftime. / Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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CINCINNATI — No deal.

Despite plenty of rumblings, the Bengals didn't address their defense ahead of the 2024 NFL trade deadline.

They added an important piece in running back Khalil Herbert. It sounds like Herbert has a chance to play on Thursday night against the Ravens.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati's defense is 26th in the NFL in sacks (17) and that's after Trey Hendrickson had a career-high four sacks in Week 9 against the Raiders.

Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith were two pass rushers that were traded on Tuesday, but the Bengals didn't address their defense.

Azeez Ojulari was a perfect fit on paper, but the Giants reportedly had a high asking price and were comfortable keeping the 24-year-old. Arden Key was another potential trade target, but the Titans held onto him too.

That means the Bengals are banking on Myles Murphy to take a big step forward. They picked him with the No. 28 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He's off to a slow start this year, partially because of a training camp knee injury that sidelined him for the first four games of the season.

The Bengals desperately need Murphy, Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson to all take a significant step forward in the second half of the year if they're going to make a playoff run.

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James Rapien
JAMES RAPIEN

James Rapien is the publisher of Bengals On SI. He's also the host of the Locked on Bengals podcast and Cincinnati Bengals Talk on YouTube. The Cincinnati native also wrote a book about the history of the Cincinnati Bengals called Enter The Jungle. Prior to joining Bengals On SI, Rapien worked at 700 WLW and ESPN 1530 in Cincinnati

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