Cincinnati Bengals ceiling and floor for 2023

The Cincinnati Bengals have high aspirations in 2023 after making back-to-back AFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance over the past two seasons.

With the conclusion of training camp and preseason, here's the Bengals' ceiling and floor heading into Week 1.

Ceiling 14-3

Cincinnati didn't have a ton of roster turnover this offseason, but it made solid moves by signing free-agent left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and filling TE Hayden Hurst's void with Irv Smith Jr. The Bengals also, of course, still have arguably the second-best quarterback in the league in Joe Burrow and he has his sights on overtaking the reigning champion, Patrick Mahomes, this year.

"I don't think there's any argument right now. It's Patrick until someone has a better year than he's had. He's the one to knock off," Burrow said, via PFF.

Another year with Burrow and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd is all the offense really needs to get going. It shouldn't take too long, as Cincinnati has a favorable schedule.

Floor 9-8

It feels like the only thing that can hold the Bengals back in 2023 are injuries, and Burrow's injury in training camp certainly had fans holding their breaths. Burrow has since returned to practice, but the worry of his calf strain getting reaggravated will be in the back of everyone's mind for the rest of the year.

"They've been extremely cautious with it. Timing was really on their side," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said. "Zac Taylor, the head coach of the Bengals, calls Joe Burrow officially day-to-day...the belief is he'll be playing."

Outside of Burrow's injury, the only concern is the backend of Cincinnati's defense. The team lost both its starting safeties (Jessie Bates III to the Falcons and Vonn Bell to the Panthers) this offseason, which may make the defense vulnerable. The Bengals will have to rely on second-year player Dax Hill and veteran Nick Scott to step up to the challenge.