{
  "id": 2771289,
  "title": "Ben Johnson Gets Blunt on Dexter Lawrence After Bengals Win",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/ben-johnson-gets-blunt-on-dexter-lawrence-after-bengals-win",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-23T10:32:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ben-johnson-gets-blunt-dexter-103252786.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On August 22, the Cincinnati Bengals secured a convincing 27-9 preseason victory against the Chicago Bears at Paycor Stadium. The Bears' offensive line, however, faced off against Bengals defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II during joint practices, as reported by Geoff Stellfox of Getty Images. Lawrence is anticipated to be a standout defensive player for the Bengals in the upcoming season, according to Bears head coach Ben Johnson. Johnson stated, \"I think [Lawrence is] a menace. He’s an issue.\" He further added that the veteran \"wrecks practice,\" which is consistent with his reputation. Johnson praised the competition of Garrett Bradbury against Lawrence, noting that limiting one-on-one matchups with him is crucial due to his exceptional skills. Last season, Lawrence played 754 snaps for the New York Giants, earning a 75.6 overall PFF defensive grade, and generated 34 total pressures, 27 hurries, 16 stops, two batted passes, and seven QB hits. Despite Caleb Williams' high praise for Lawrence's abilities, the Bengals have invested heavily in their defense for the 2026 season, with Joe Burrow emphasizing the urgency and importance of that year.",
  "summary": "The Cincinnati Bengals came away with a 27-9 preseason win over the Chicago Bears on Aug. 22 at Paycor Stadium. Moreover, the Bears‘ offensive line got a taste of facing Bengals defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II throughout the week, as both teams held joint practices. Lawrence will look to be that difference-maker for the Bengals […] The post Ben Johnson Gets Blunt on Dexter Lawrence After…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "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."
}