The preseason is all about the unknown.
Every team has 50 or so players who aren’t guaranteed anything more than today in the month of August. We’ve seen the Bengals already dispose of a proven veteran in Brandon LaFell, and a promising undrafted rookie in Ja’Von Rolland-Jones in the middle of training camp. But there are plenty more cuts to come, and the preseason is where jobs unexpectedly get taken.
The first preseason game is important for these young players with high aspirations, but also for veterans who are coming off a season they want to build off of, or just forget entirely.