{
  "id": 109865,
  "title": "Bengals' Joe Burrow Gives High Praise to Dexter Lawrence Before Season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/bengals-joe-burrow-gives-high-praise-to-dexter-lawrence-before-season",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-04T00:57:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/bengals-joe-burrow-gives-high-praise-to-dexter-lawrence-before-season-12279966"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Joe Burrow gave his new teammate, Dexter Lawrence, high praise after facing him at the Cincinnati Bengals training camp.",
  "key_points": [
    "Bengals acquire Dexter Lawrence from New York Giants in trade.",
    "Joe Burrow praises Lawrence's imposing presence on field.",
    "Lawrence enters eighth NFL season with impressive stats."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Joe Burrow's praise for Dexter Lawrence signals that the quarterback is already factoring the dominant defender into his game plan, a key development for a Bengals team seeking to rebound in the AFC.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}