Bengals Rumors On Al Golden's Comments On Geno Stone, Hunter Greene News, Xavier vs. UConn

Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden publicly defended safety Geno Stone ahead of the Week 18 game, offering a relatively positive evaluation of the veteran despite widespread criticism of Stone’s play this season. Golden highlighted Stone’s leadership and communication as key factors in the defense’s improved performance over the past eight games, suggesting that Stone has played an important role in helping the unit find its footing of late. Golden credited him with getting the secondary aligned properly and being a stabilizing voice on the field.

Golden explicitly pointed to Stone’s contributions to recent defensive success, saying that much of the late-season improvement can be traced back to the safety’s steady presence. He acknowledged that both he and Stone, along with teammate Jordan Battle, would like to have “one play back here, one play back there,” but maintained that Stone has improved from the previous year and continues to develop. Golden emphasized a positive outlook on Stone’s future, stating he sees a “path forward” for Stone to keep improving with continued coaching.

It’s notable that while Golden praised Stone’s intangibles and leadership, he stopped short of committing to wanting Stone back in 2026, deflecting future-oriented questions by focusing solely on the final game of the season. Stone is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and Golden didn’t directly address plans for next year.

Golden’s comments have drawn mixed reactions, with many fans seeing his praise as coach-speak protecting a struggling player, while others interpret it as a genuine belief in Stone’s value beyond traditional statistical performance.

In short, Golden is publicly backing Geno Stone as a leader and communicator with room to grow, even as broader analysis and fan sentiment remain skeptical.

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