Bengals' Joe Burrow Gives High Praise to Dexter Lawrence Before Season
Joe Burrow gave his new teammate, Dexter Lawrence, high praise after facing him at the Cincinnati Bengals training camp.
The Cincinnati Bengals bolstered their defense by acquiring Dexter Lawrence II from the New York Giants in a trade that involved the Giants' first-round pick, the No. 10 selection for the 2026 NFL Draft. In return, the Giants received defensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. With training camp in full swing, Bengals' star quarterback Joe Burrow has commended Lawrence on his imposing presence on the field.
During an interview with CBS Sports' Evan Washburn, Burrow shared that Lawrence's size has made it difficult for him to throw over the middle, forcing him to adjust his positioning and focus on seeing around his formidable defender. Lawrence, drafted by the Giants in the 2019 Draft at No. 17 overall, is entering his eighth NFL season and has accumulated impressive statistics, including 349 combined tackles, 103 quarterback hits, 30.5 sacks, 15 passes defended, and five forced fumbles.
The Bengals, who ranked second-to-last in the league in points allowed last season, see Lawrence as a key addition to their defense, complementing other moves like signing Boye Mafe for the pass rush and Bryan Cook for the secondary. The team also brought in Jonathan Allen, a Pro Bowl selection in 2021 and 2022 with the Commanders, to further strengthen their defensive lineup.
With Burrow healthy and the revamped defense in place, the Bengals hope to recapture their former success in the AFC.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
