Bengals coaches rally around embattled starter before free agency

Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone has been in the spotlight as a problem area for a defense that, until the last few weeks, has had a brutally tough season. 

But Bengals coaches like defensive coordinator Al Golden have made it a point to heavily push back on those criticisms. 

Speaking with reporters before the Week 18 finale against the Cleveland Browns, Golden made it clear that much of the defensive success as of late stems from Stone. 

CLNS Media’s Mike Petraglia captured Golden’s comments: 

Al Golden with the heavy praise Monday of Geno Stone: "The success that we've had in the whatever it is - the final eight (games) - a lot of it can be attributed to Geno. I think he's been a really good leader for us. I think his communication is exceptional." pic.twitter.com/dB4urW6DB9— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) December 29, 2025

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Stone, alongside Jordan Battle and others, has struggled with massive tackling woes this season. He’s the latest in a string of attempted Jessie Bates replacements by the Bengals and currently sits scheduled for free agency this upcoming offseason. 

Golden’s comments aren’t necessarily a sign the Bengals will look to bring Stone back. But fans can be forgiven for worrying that's what this means after Golden’s unit was on pace to be one of the worst ever until this recent rebound. 

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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals coaches rally around embattled starter before free agency