Cincinnati Bengals announce 3-game preseason schedule leading up to the 2024 regular season

Lost in the full NFL schedule release are the games that are played first. That's right, we're talking about the preseason.

With only eight home games and nine road games to tackle in the regular season, the Cincinnati Bengals get to play two home games in the preseason compared to just one road trip in August.

Cincinnati revealed its 3-game preseason slate Wednesday night along with the regular season schedule. Let's run through the exhibitions on tap for the Bengals come August.

Bengals' 2024 Preseason Schedule

• Week 1: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Saturday, Aug. 10, 7:00pm ET)
• Week 2: @ Chicago Bears (Saturday, Aug. 17, 1:00pm ET)
• Week 3: vs. Indianapolis Colts (Friday, Aug. 22, 8:00pm ET)

With the Buccaneers coming to town first, the idea of joint practices come to mind. The Bengals had the Green Bay Packers in for joint practices prior to their preseason opener last year.

Tampa Bay is partaking in two joint practices this August, but neither one will involve the Bengals. That leaves the Bears and Colts as the remaining options. 

Chicago will be the lone road opponent on the Bengals' preseason docket; a relatively short trip from opposite corners of Indiana. This could be the Bengals' first meeting against first-overall pick Caleb Williams, whom was named the Bears' starter not too long ago.

Williams could use meaningful reps before making his official debut in the regular season, so expect the Bengals to face him for at least a drive or two. 

Before the NFL reduced the preseason schedule to just three games, the Colts were always the final preseason opponent for Cincinnati. The close proximity between both teams made it a convenient road trip for the visitor.

Cincinnati and Indianapolis haven't played an exhibition against one another in five years, but since they aren't scheduled to play in the regular season, that frees up the preseason finale like old times.