CINCINNATI – As the Bengals prepare for their final preseason game this Friday in Philadelphia, time to adjust the 53-man roster projection to account for some of the movers and shakers and update the fierce competition that is shaping up on the back-end of what appears to be a very deep roster. There have been several players who have made a name for themselves in the first two preseason games. But the final preseason game is always about those who play and those who don’t. Yes, there needs to be enough suited to actually play a game but for the most part, if you’re suiting up for this contest, it doesn’t always bode well for your chances, as the team is protecting those players who are considered by the organization to already be on the roster, at least the first cut this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.
- Key Additions:
Free agents: Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen, Bryan Cook, Kyle Dugger, Ja’Sir Taylor, Swayze Bozeman, Dohnte Meyers, Josh Johnson
Trade: Dexter Lawrence II
Draft: Cashius Howell, Tacario ‘Bobo’ Davis, Colbie Young, Brian Parker II, Connor Lew, Landon Robinson, Jack Endries
Undrafted rookie and second-year free agents: Noah Thomas, Eric Gentry, Jack Dingle, Ceyair Wright (left team), Jamal Haynes, Kentrel Bullock
- Second-year risers:
Shemar Stewart, Dylan Fairchild, Mitch Tinsley, Isaiah Foskey, Bralyn Lux, Barrett Carter, Demetrius Knight Jr., Jalen Rivers
- Key Losses:
Free agents: Trey Hendrickson (Baltimore), Joseph Ossai (New York Jets), Geno Stone (Buffalo), Jake Browning (Tampa Bay), Cam Sample (Atlanta), Noah Fant (New Orleans), Lucas Patrick (New York Giants), Cam Taylor-Britt (Indianapolis), Marco Wilson (Miami), Tycen Anderson (Denver), Cordell Volson (Tennessee)
2026 Bengals 53-man roster projection 3.0:
OFFENSE (25):
- Quarterback (2):
Joe Burrow, Joe Flacco
Cuts: Josh Johnson, Sean Clifford
Trags take:
Johnson had a very strong showing Saturday, completing 15-of-23 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Sean Clifford opened the third quarter by engineering a touchdown drive and tossing a nice TD pass to Noah Thomas off his back foot. Expect to see much more of them this Friday against the Eagles.
- Running back (3):
Chase Brown, Samaje Perine, Tahj Brooks
Cuts: Kendall Milton, Gary Brightwell, Jamal Haynes, Kentrel Bullock
Trags take:
Barring a trade, this room appears to be very set going into the season with three very known commodities.
- Tight end (5):
Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample, Erick All Jr., Jack Endries, Tanner Hudson
Cuts: Cam Grandy, Josh Kattus
Trags take:
This is where it gets very tricky because if the Bengals want to carry five tight ends – and Zac Taylor loves dependable tight ends – then they’re going to have to pull from somewhere else, likely on the offensive line. The educated guess is that the Bengals don’t feel comfortable exposing either Tanner Hudson or Jack Endries, more specifically Endries. So they decide to keep him.
- Wide Receiver (6):
Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Colbie Young, Mitchell Tinsley, Dohnte Meyers
Cuts:Kendric Pryor, Jordan Moore, Noah Thomas, Xavier Johnson, Ke’Shawn Williams, Charlie Jones
Trags take:
The top four are set. The question is whether they trust Meyers in the kick and punt return game and if they feel he can provide explosives, then he is the choice over Charlie Jones, who is essentially on the roster as a returner. Jones is very reliable but Meyers might offer more explosion and might be the more viable receiver. Tinsley is super dependable in the receiving game. If the Bengals feel Jones can clear waivers, then they’ll likely keep him on practice squad. Meyers’ production and skills are undeniable this camp and preseason.
- Offensive line (9):
Orlando Brown Jr., Amarius Mims, Ted Karras, Dylan Fairchild, Dalton Risner, Jalen Rivers, Connor Lew, Brian Parker II, Jacob Bayer
Cuts: Javon Foster, Liam Brown, Jacob Bayer, Corey Robinson II, Christian Jones, Andrew Coker
Trags take:
Two false starts and two holding calls in the first half didn’t help the stock of Cody Ford, who was released Monday after appearing to be that third tackle coming into camp. The focus internally is now on Foster and Rivers at the third tackle spots. Now, do the Bengals make a change? Do they acquire someone in a trade? It’s always tricky to read how a team regards its own offensive line depth toward the back end. Lew and Parker looked strong on Saturday night inside. How do they regard Rivers at tackle after playing a lot of camp at guard? Bayer offers experienced depth on the interior.
DEFENSE(25):
- Edge (5):
Boye Mafe, Cashius Howell, Shemar Stewart, Myles Murphy, Cedric Johnson
Cuts: Isaiah Foskey, Antwuan Powell-Ryland
Trags take: Foskey split a sack with Landon Robinson on Saturday and is going to get serious reps Friday to try and make one more push. Again, if cut he is a perfect PS candidate.
- IDL (6):
Dexter Lawrence II, Jonathan Allen, T.J. Slaton, BJ Hill, Landon Robinson, Kris Jenkins Jr.
Cuts: McKinnley Jackson, Howard Cross III, Jordan Jefferson
Trags take: Landon Robinson was a monster on Saturday against the Bears. Barring a trade of Kris Jenkins Jr., this room seems pretty set, assuming they keep six and that would make sense given the “waves” that Al Golden wants to throw on the field. If Golden decides to put Lawrence, Allen and Slaton on the field at the same time, he’s going to want six on the roster.
- Linebackers (4):
Demetrius Knight Jr., Barrett Carter, Oren Burks, Swayze Bozeman
Cuts: Shaka Heyward, Liam Anderson, Eric Gentry, Jack Dingle, Joe Giles-Harris
Trags take:
Bozeman continues to get a long, long look and might have passed Shaka Heyward. Liam Anderson showed up well on Saturday against the Bears with several plays. If they think Bozeman can get through waivers, then they might take Giles-Harris in this spot.
- Cornerbacks (6):
Dax Hill, DJ Turner II, DJ Ivey, Jalen Davis, Ja’Sir Taylor, Bobo Davis
Cuts: Josh Newton, Matthew McDoom, Jalen Kimber, Bralyn Lux
Trags take:
Can Newton squeeze out Taylor for the final corner spot or do the Bengals feel Newton is perfect for the practice squad? Bet here is they signed the veteran Taylor for a reason so go with Taylor over Newton for now.
- Safeties (4):
Bryan Cook, Jordan Battle, Kyle Dugger, PJ Jules
Cuts:, Russ Yeast, Daijahn Anthony
Trags take: Top three – Cook, Battle and Dugger – are locked in. Jules is a special teams piece and Darrin Simmons might have the final say there. But Yeast has been flying all over the secondary, including the game-sealing pick against the Lions. Might be the biggest coin flip on the roster. Go with the known commodity for now.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3):
- Kicker (1):
Evan McPherson
Cuts: None
Trags take:
A 58-yard field goal with plenty to spare Saturday against the Bears adds to him impressive camp and preseason. McPherson is 5-for-5 on field goals with boots of 56 and 58 yards and 4-for-4 on PATs.
- Punter/Holder(1):
Ryan Rehkow
Cuts: None
Trags take: Rehkow had a great game against the Bears, five punts, four inside the 20 and a net average of 41 yards.
- Long snapper (1):
Williams Wagner
Cuts:
Trags take: Smooth and steady. Nothing else needs to be said here.
