Sam Hubbard makes bold prediction for his performance, Bengals in 2023

Expectations are high once again in Cincinnati this NFL season. The Bengals, fresh off their second straight trip to the AFC Championship, continue their quest for a Super Bowl as Joe Burrow enters his fourth season.

One other player who has big plans for 2023 is Sam Hubbard. The former Ohio State standout is coming off another solid season for Cincinnati, totaling 60 tackles and 6.5 sacks. That came after a 7.5-sack performance in 2021 during the regular season.

While the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal, Hubbard has some big personal aspirations, as well.

“I got double-digits [sacks] in ’21 including playoffs, but I want regular-season double-digits,” Hubbard said last month, via Bengals.com’s Geoff Hobson. “I’ve been close. Last year I was on pace before I tore my calf … and slowed me up.”

Hubbard went down with the torn calf in December and missed the next game against the New England Patriots. He returned for the rest of the season, but he wasn’t in the same shape he was in before he got hurt.

As training camp approaches, he’s feeling great — and ready to help the Bengals make a run.

“My main goal and only goal is to win the Super Bowl,” Hubbard said. “This is the best I’ve felt in my whole career by a landslide physically.”

In order to stay healthy, Hubbard took some steps to change his regimen. Now, he’s gearing up to build off his success the last couple seasons.

“My core discipline, my routine during the week, cold exposure, sauna, nutrition. It’s a little bit better in all areas,” Hubbard said. “I’m ready to put it all together.”

Another player to watch on defense is newcomer Sidney Jones IV. He signed with the Bengals over the offseason after appearing in just seven games last year for the Las Vegas Raiders. It was a tough follow-up to a 2021 season that was arguably his best in the league, totaling 66 tackles and 10 passes defended for the Seattle Seahawks.

Through early workouts, it appears Jones is coming along well as he figures to play a role on defense in Cincinnati.

“Jones finished the team’s offseason workouts with a nice minicamp showing,” ESPN’s Ben Baby wrote. “Most notably, he was in position to intercept a pass intended for wideout Tee Higgins during a 7-on-7 period. It’s a great sign for a Bengals secondary that signed Jones for veteran depth behind cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie, Cam Taylor-Britt and Mike Hilton.”