USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
The Cincinnati Bengals did about everything they could to ensure they lost to the Steelers on Sunday. Special teams snafus gave the Steelers 10 points, the defense suddenly couldn’t pressure the quarterback or stop the run, and on the final offensive play of the game, quarterback Joe Burrow was sacked (his only sack) and fumbled the ball away.
Pittsburgh’s Sabastian Joseph-Day recovered the ball, and the game was over.
Right guard Dalton Risner, who had a solid game otherwise, was credited with giving up that sack on Burrow. While he knew it was recovered by the Steelers immediately, he also saw something that showed how tough the 2026 Bengals are, even when they lose.
Risner said he had a good view of the play and Joseph-Day clearly recovered the fumble, was down and being touched, and the play was over. It’s what happened afterward that made him call tight end Erick All “one tough SOB.” All and Tanner Hudson claimed the former recovered the ball, but Risner admitted the Steelers got it first.
“Erick All comes running from downfield and finds a little crevice in that pile and literally jumps in there,” Risner said. “After about two minutes of being on the ground, he comes up with the football, bro. Like Erick was the last person on that pile, somehow managed to get in there and take it from a defensive tackle. And that’s just who he is; I love that guy.”
The play officially went under review to make sure who recovered the ball, and while it ultimately went to the Steelers, All created a moment where the game wasn’t over yet. It may have been futile, but a player’s willingness to try to make something happen in such circumstances says a lot about their character on the field.
Hopefully Sunday was just a minor bump in the road, and the Bengals are back to winning in Week 4.