Bengals Beat: Daijahn Anthony, Joe Giles-Harris, Jermaine Burton, Practice Squad in Focus For 2025 Camp 53-man Final Projection

CINCINNATI – The Bengals enter Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET cutdown deadline knowing their top players in all starting positions and most of the key depth pieces on offense and defense.

Some backups made one final statement for the roster in Saturday’s 41-14 loss to the Colts at Paycor. Linebacker Maema Njongmeta had a team-leading 11 tackles. Safety PJ Jules is looking for a spot on special teams. He had five tackles, four in the first half.

The key part to keep in mind following Saturday’s preseason finale is who among the projected cuts made enough of a final impression to the point where the Bengals would like to bring them back to the practice squad or perhaps they land elsewhere in the NFL where a team may have a particular need.

• Key Additions:

Free agents: T.J. Slaton, Lucas Patrick, Samaje Perine, Noah Fant, Oren Burks, Joe Giles-Harris, Taven Bryan, Desmond Ridder

Draft: Shemar Stewart, Demetrius Knight Jr., Dylan Fairchild, Barrett Carter, Jalen Rivers, Tahj Brooks

Undrafted rookie and second-year free agents: Mitchell Tinsley Andrew Raym, Jamoi Mayes, Jordan Moore, Bralyn Lux, Shaquan Loyal

• Second-year risers:

Amarius Mims, Kris Jenkins Jr., Jermaine Burton, McKinnley Jackson, Josh Newton, Cedric Johnson, Daijahn Anthony, Matt Lee

• Key Losses:

Free agents: Alex Cappa (Las Vegas), Vonn Bell, Germaine Pratt (Las Vegas), Akeem Davis-Gaither (Arizona), Zack Moss (neck injury), Trayveon Williams (Cleveland), Trenton Irwin (Jacksonville), Sam Hubbard (retired), Mike Hilton (Miami)

Without further ado, we present the 2025 Bengals 53-man roster FINAL projection:

OFFENSE (25):

• Quarterback (2):

Joe Burrow, Jake Browning
Cuts: Desmond Ridder, Payton Thorne

Trags take:
It was a rough day for Desmond Ridder, who completed just 8-of-20 passes for 75 yards and threw a pick-6 to Colts safety Daniel Scott. Ridder said afterward he could’ve played much better but wasn’t able to put it down on film. He is a practice squad candidate. Thorne got his first reps of preseason, completing 4-of-7 passes for 41 yards.

• Running back (3):

Chase Brown, Samaje Perine, Tahj Brooks
Cuts: Kendall Milton, Gary Brightwell, Quali Conley

Trags take:
Kendall Milton broke out for a 41-yard run in the first half and is a candidate for the practice squad.

• Tight end (4):

Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample, Noah Fant, Tanner Hudson
Cuts: Cam Grandy, Tanner McLachlan

Trags take:
Cam Grandy caught three passes on all three of his targets for 17 yards. Both Grandy and McLachlan could wind up on practice squad.

• Wide Receiver (6):

Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones, Jermaine Burton, Mitchell Tinsley
Cuts:Kendric Pryor,, Rashod Owens, Jordan Moore, Jamoi Mayes, Isaiah Williams

Trags take:
Jermaine Burton’s knee injury re-aggravated Saturday is the wild card here. Depends on the severity of the injury. If it’s serious, he could wind up on IR. If it’s IR before cutdown deadline, he’s out for the season and essentially a red-shirt season. If not, and the Bengals believe they can bring him back, then he makes the roster or is eligible to be traded. He could then be placed on IR after the deadline and be brought back. If that’s the case, he must make the initial 53-man roster. Or, he could be released and Isaiah Williams is the likely choice. Tinsley not playing in the finale is a good indication that he’s got a spot on the 53.

• Offensive line (10):

Orlando Brown Jr., Amarius Mims, Matt Lee, Ted Karras, Lucas Patrick, Dylan Fairchild, Cody Ford, Devin Cochran, Jalen Rivers, Seth McLaughlin
Cuts: Jaxson Kirkland, Andrew Stueber, Andrew Raym, Caleb Etienne, Andrew Coker, Cordell Volson (IR)

Trags take:
Jaxson Kirkland didn’t have a good Saturday, with a holding and a false start. Devin Cochran edges past Kirkland here for the final spot. Matt Lee started at center Saturday. Raym could be in the mix if Matt Lee or Seth McLaughlin are cut. Cochran, McLaughlin, Lee, Raym and Kirkland are five players for three spots.

DEFENSE(25):

• Edge (5):

Trey Hendrickson, Joseph Ossai, Shemar Stewart, Myles Murphy, Cam Sample
Cuts: Isaiah Thomas, Raymond Johnson III, Cedric Johnson

Trags take: Isaiah Thomas had a terrific day on Saturday, two sacks, five tackles and three quarterback hits. This again assumes Hendrickson and the team eventually iron things out. Thomas would seem to be a perfect fit for the practice squad.

• IDL (4):

T.J. Slaton, BJ Hill, Kris Jenkins Jr., McKinnley Jackson
Cuts: Taven Bryan, McTelvin Agim, Eric Gregory, Howard Cross III

Trags take:
What to make of Cross and Jackson playing well into the third quarter? Zac Taylor said he just wanted to see more of both on film. Could the two be competing for a fourth and final spot? If the Bengals want to take a sixth linebacker (Njongmeta, Giles-Harris) or sixth edge (Thomas). Cross certainly is a candidate for the practice squad.

• Linebackers (6):

Logan Wilson, Demetrius Knight Jr., Barrett Carter, Oren Burks, Joe Giles-Harris, Shaka Heyward
Cuts: Maema Njongmeta, Craig Young

Trags take:

With Knight a big dinged – not considered too serious – it would always be nice to have an extra backer that you trust on the roster. The backend group of linebackers have all performed well in preseason and camp, with Giles-Harris signed away from Jacksonville and Heyward a trusted member of the room as a depth player and a special teams contributor both worthy of spots. Maema, a very popular and hard-working member of the room, could be headed for practice squad.

• Cornerbacks (6):

Dax Hill, Cam Taylor-Britt, Marco Wilson, DJ Turner II, DJ Ivey, Josh Newton
Cuts: Jalen Davis, Bralyn Lux, Shaquan Loyal, Nate Brooks

Trags take:

This room seems pretty locked down, with Jalen Davis headed for practice squad if he slips through. DJ Turner II is dealing with a leg issue and hasn’t dressed for the last week. Still, his spot should be safe. Bralyn Lux is another candidate for the practice squad.

• Safeties (4):

Geno Stone, Jordan Battle, Tycen Anderson, Daijahn Anthony
Cuts: Shaquan Loyal, PJ Jules, Jaylen Key

Trags take:
Anthony was dinged up with a hamstring but if it’s not serious, he makes the team and Jules is headed for the practice squad, if he clears.

SPECIAL TEAMS (3):

• Kicker (1):

Evan McPherson
Cuts: None

Trags take:
Made all 10 kicks in preseason, including all seven extra points. Feels as confident, physically and mentally as he has in his career, which enters its fifth year this season.

• Punter/Holder(1):

Ryan Rehkow
Cuts: None

Trags take: Rehkow had a very solid preseason with directional punting. First time in several years that there have been no questions regarding the punter position.

• Long snapper (1):

Cal Adomitis
Cuts: William Wagner

Trags take: Based on McPherson’s perfect preseason, it would seem that Simmons would not want to rock the boat here. Keep Wagner on the practice squad if something happens to Adomitis, if Wagner is not claimed following cuts.