'Probably The Easiest Thing To Change' - Bengals Center Ted Karras Discusses Slow Starts To Seasons

 The 2025 Bengals season can hit a higher ceiling if the team fires out to a hot start, something Ted Karras talked about on The Pat McAfee Show last week.

Cincinnati is 7-14-1 in September under Zac Taylor, but 7-8 since the 2021 season. Still, they have to get off to better starts for strong positions in potential playoff runs.

"I think that obviously, we have to change something with these 0-2, 0-3 starts. So I think maybe spring might look a little different too," Karras said. "I don't know what that's going to entail, but I know that's probably some more playing time in these preseason games for the starters. That would be probably the easiest thing to change and try to switch up that early season Mojo."

The 32-year-old is experienced in playing extended preseason time from earlier in his career.

"I had to go make the team in this game," Karras said the preseason action. "So I would play 85 to 100% of the snaps, no tapping out, no tapping out. Obviously, preseason [game] three was traditional, like the dress rehearsal. And then every fringe guy, all the starters rested, and then that was our game. So, I do appreciate what the preseason means to a lot of guys going out there and fighting for a job. It's been nice to sit down for a few later in my career, but I'm a football player, so if coaches tell me to go play. Let's go we're lacing them up."

Karras played 13 preseason snaps last season after seeing none since joining the Bengals in 2022 before that.