The Cincinnati Bengals announced they released defensive tackle Mike Pennel. Pennel had 15 tackles in the eight games in which he played for Cincinnati. The Bengals also placed linebacker Shaka Heyward and center Matt Lee on the reserve/injured list.

As the Steelers try to fix their pass defense woes, Pittsburgh brought in a former Saints and Bengals secondary standout.

The Cincinnati Bengals defense went young. Two rookie linebackers and a rookie edge rusher, all starting. A cast of unproven recent NFL Draft picks across the defensive line. Even the secondary, experienced by comparison, still has four starters on rookie deals.

This is a small rookie class for the Bengals, but an important one with a lot of upside. While some of the rookies are starting to show their potential, others have been stagnant in their development.

It’s worth debating whether the Cincinnati Bengals should actually green-light Joe Burrow’s return from injury later this season, provided he’s ready to go. The Bengals, defensively, are a disaster, with Al Golden’s unit the culprit behind a stunning loss to the formerly winless New York Jets.

The Bengals rank last in the NFL in scoring defense and total defense. Many of the rest of their numbers don't look much better.

How to watch Sunday's Bears and Bengals game with streaming and radio information as well as the latest betting lines and trends.