What happened: He framed his earlier “now or never” remark as a daily championship mindset rather than an ultimatum. He also said Cincinnati can win without relying on 60 pass attempts each week.

Why it matters: The clarification counters suggestions that his earlier wording threatened an exit. It comes as the Bengals target a Super Bowl win in 2026.

What to watch: The revised under-center and play-action package gets its first regular-season test Sunday.