CINCINNATI — Geno Stone, the Bengals’ safety, has confirmed through an Instagram post on Wednesday night that he will not be returning for a third season with Cincinnati. As his contract approaches free agency, Stone’s departure marks the end of his tenure with the Bengals that began in 2024. The team is preparing to move on from him in 2026 to improve its defensive backfield.
Performance Struggles Contributed to Stone’s Exit
Stone’s performance during his time in Cincinnati included struggles that contributed to the decision not to retain him. In both 2024 and 2025, Pro Football Focus graded him poorly, with scores of 53.1 and 54.3 respectively. This contrasts sharply with the more impactful start he had in Baltimore. Notably, Stone had major tackling issues, missing 23 tackles this past season—more than any other player on the Bengals—and was second only to Germaine Pratt with 17 missed tackles in 2024. Additionally, the NFL passer rating when quarterbacks targeted his coverage area increased to 110.4 in 2025, up by 16 points from the previous year, signaling a need for Cincinnati to find stronger options at safety either via free agency or draft picks.
Stone Reflects on Defensive Challenges During the Season
Following a loss to the Steelers on November 16, Stone candidly addressed the Bengals’ defensive lapses.
“It comes down to certain situations where people aren’t in the right spot, and that’s what it came down to,”
he said. He acknowledged improvement in team performance despite ongoing tackling issues, including his own.
“But I think overall, we played better. I’ll say that we played better. I mean, definitely still got to tackle better, myself included, but we definitely played better,”
Stone added.
New Safety Expected to Join Jordan Battle in Cincinnati Defense
The Bengals are poised to introduce a new starting safety to partner with Jordan Battle, possibly as soon as the upcoming week. The team is evaluating potential candidates with an emphasis on fit, role, and instincts, according to Duke Tobin, Bengals director of player personnel, who spoke at the 2026 NFL Combine. Tobin emphasized the importance of cohesion and adaptability.
“It’s the who, the what, the fit, how they’re playing, what they’re asked to do, all those kinds of things have to come together and fit together,”
Tobin explained. He rejected the notion that any single player was responsible for the team’s defensive issues this year.
“I’m not going to say that anybody was the cause of our defensive fall this year. I’m not going to call out any of our players on that. The group has to play better as a whole. What we like in safeties is what everyone likes in safeties. You want guys who are instinctive, that see the big picture,”
Tobin stated.
Implications for Bengals Defense Moving Forward
With Geno Stone’s confirmed exit, the Bengals have an opportunity to refresh their defensive backfield in 2026. Addressing coverage vulnerabilities and tackling shortcomings will be priorities as they seek safeties who combine instincts with dependable execution. How the Bengals approach this transition—through free agency, the draft, or internal competition—will be critical for stabilizing their defense and improving performance in future seasons. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see which personnel moves follow Stone’s departure and how they impact the team’s defensive success.
Geno Stone not being a Cincinnati Bengal in 2026 is an addition to the defense💀 pic.twitter.com/Z1IjvY2oWJ
— Bengals Central (@BengalsCentral_) March 4, 2026
