Joe Burrow made his 2026 preseason debut Thursday night at Paycor Stadium, and when it was over, he wasn’t just talking about his own night under center. He was talking about Dohnte Meyers.
The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Detroit Lions 16-14 in their preseason opener, and Burrow completed 5 of 6 passes for 39 yards across 13 snaps before giving way to the rest of the depth chart, according to the Bengals’ official postgame recap. He also took a sack on the opening possession and absorbed a hard hit on a third-down throw, per Local12’s report on the game.
None of that overshadowed Meyers. The 26-year-old former CFL receiver, who signed with Cincinnati in January, led all Bengals pass-catchers with three receptions for 29 yards. He added a 13-yard run for good measure, per the team’s own recap.
Why Joe Burrow Is Talking Up Dohnte Meyers
Burrow isn’t hurting for weapons. He already has Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, arguably the best receiving duo in the league. But every training camp produces a name nobody outside the building saw coming, and this year that name is Meyers.
Speaking to reporters after the win, Burrow explained what set Meyers apart before camp even opened. “Number one, he just loves ball,” Burrow said. “The week before training camp, I texted him: ‘Hey, are you in town?'”
Charlie Clifford posted on X: “Joe Burrow says former CFL star WR Dohnte Meyers stood out tonight. Added he has all of camp.”
Joe Burrow says former CFL star WR Dohnte Meyers stood out tonight. Added he has all of camp.
Then Burrow shared a story of Meyers driving through the night this summer from Atlanta to Cincinnati just to be a part of his throwing session:
"That is the kind of guy that he is." pic.twitter.com/unfLEBKKkx
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) August 14, 2026
Burrow went on to describe what happened next. Meyers told him he could make it. Burrow asked if he could be there the following morning at 11. Meyers said yes — then drove through the night from Atlanta to Cincinnati to make it happen.
“Come to find out, he drove from Atlanta that night to be there to throw the next day. That’s the kind of guy that he is.” — Joe Burrow
Local12’s postgame coverage independently described the same exchange, reporting that Burrow shared a story about contacting Meyers before training camp to ask if he could catch passes the next morning, and that Meyers made the trip.
Burrow didn’t stop at the backstory. He broke down what Meyers has shown on the field. “He’s had a great camp,” Burrow said. “He’s quick, shifty, and understands what we’re trying to do. He played a lot in the CFL, and though he comes over here and hasn’t played a lot in the NFL, he’s got a lot of reps under his belt. He’s a guy that we’ve seen a lot out of.”
The Numbers From Cincinnati’s 16-14 Win
Detroit rested its starters, which opened the door for players like Meyers to make a case for a roster spot. Cincinnati’s defense set the tone early, intercepting a Luke Altmyer pass on the opening series and forcing a fumble recovery from rookie Cashius Howell, according to the team’s recap.
| Player | Stat Line |
|---|---|
| Joe Burrow (QB) | 5-of-6 passing, 39 yards, 1 sack, 13 snaps |
| Dohnte Meyers (WR) | 3 receptions, 29 yards, 1 rush, 13 yards |
| Jack Endries (TE) | 3 receptions, 25 yards, 1 TD |
| Joe Flacco (QB) | Threw TD pass to Endries in Q2 |
Detroit rallied late, cutting the deficit to two points on a touchdown and two-point conversion, but rookie Noah Thomas recovered the ensuing onside kick and safety Russ Yeast sealed it with an interception in the final seconds, per the Bengals’ recap.
What’s Next for Meyers
Cincinnati’s receiver room is deep, and Meyers still has to prove he belongs on the 53-man roster. Two preseason games remain for him to make his case to Burrow and head coach Zac Taylor. But between the camp buzz and Thursday’s performance, Meyers has put himself firmly in the roster conversation — even if a practice-squad spot ends up being the more realistic outcome.
For now, the story writing itself in Cincinnati isn’t just about a receiver chasing a roster spot. It’s about a quarterback who noticed the effort behind it.
