CINCINNATI – With one preseason game in the books, 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.
- 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, 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 2.0:
OFFENSE (25):
- Quarterback (2):
Joe Burrow, Joe Flacco
Cuts: Josh Johnson, Sean Clifford
Trags take:
Story here is how many snaps will Josh Johnson and Sean Clifford get behind Burrow and Flacco. Clifford is trying to show he belongs on the practice squad. He got in with a chance to kill some clock with 8:30 left in the fourth. He completed one 2-yard pass for his only completion and was able to run just 2:30 off the clock. Then, with about 90 seconds left, after the Bengals recovered the onside kick, the offense ran three times and had to punt one more time.
- Running back (3):
Chase Brown, Samaje Perine, Tahj Brooks
Cuts: Kendall Milton, Gary Brightwell, Jamal Haynes, Kentrel Bullock
Trags take:
Kendall Milton fumbled away a possession in the second quarter, costing the Bengals a chance at points. Tahj Brooks appears to be solidly in at No. 3 behind Brown and veteran Perine.
- Tight end (5):
Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample, Erick All Jr., Jack Endries, Tanner Hudson
Cuts: Cam Grandy, Josh Kattus
Trags take:
Bengals liked Endries enough to draft him out of Texas after he fell like a gift in the draft. On Thursday, he caught three passes for 25 yards, including a four-yard TD from Joe Flacco. Endries is someone that Joe Burrow said reminds him of Tanner Hudson. Hudson is still very valuable as a receiver. Endries is someone they don’t likely want to expose to the wire. So, consider him on the roster.
- Wide Receiver (6):
Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Colbie Young, Charlie Jones, Dohnte Meyers
Cuts:Kendric Pryor, Jordan Moore, Noah Thomas, Xavier Johnson, Ke’Shawn Williams, Mitchell Tinsley
Trags take:
This doesn’t change after what we saw Thursday. Tinsley is a well-regarded receiver but if Meyers continues to show his speed and route-running skills, then it’s going to be a fight to the end. Right now, Meyers has the lead after what we saw from his jet-sweep run of 11 yards, his receiving ability, Joe Burrow telling that story about him driving up from Atlanta to be a part of the offseason passing session. Meyers flashed all over the field and returned a punt 11 yards. Noah Thomas nearly came up with a spectacular catch in the corner of the end zone but couldn’t come down with it inbounds due to no fault of his own. Charlie Jones and Ke’Shawn Williams are in a battle for WR/PR, with the trusty Jones maintaining the lead right now.
- Offensive line (9):
Orlando Brown Jr., Amarius Mims, Ted Karras, Dylan Fairchild, Cody Ford, Dalton Risner, Jalen Rivers, Connor Lew, Brian Parker II
Cuts: Javon Foster, Liam Brown, Jacob Bayer, Corey Robinson II, Christian Jones, Andrew Coker
Trags take:
The starting five are entrenched, barring injury. The battle to watch here is for the third tackle spot, which is presumably Cody Ford right now as he’s been getting the majority of second team reps with Andrew Coker. That didn’t change Thursday. But Jacob Bayer did flash strength as the backup to Karras, with Connor Lew not dressing. Keep a close eye on Bayer if the Bengals decide to go with 10 OL. Javon Foster, Corey Robinson II and Christian Jones will get a chance to push in preseason.
DEFENSE(25):
- Edge (5):
Boye Mafe, Cashius Howell, Shemar Stewart, Myles Murphy, Cedric Johnson
Cuts: Isaiah Foskey, Antwuan Powell-Ryland
Trags take: Nothing changed about this room after Thursday. Pretty solid and strong, with Stewart just working toward a possible return late in preseason.
- 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 vaulted McKinnley Jackson with the effort he put on film on Thursday. He was quick and explosive, taking on double teams powerfully. Kris Jenkins was all over the field making plays. That could be significant if another team comes calling looking for a 3-tech DT. At the very least, the Bengals have terrific depth in this room.
- 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:
Biggest takeaway here is Swayze Bozeman getting early first half reps at the linebacker spot on Thursday, clearly a sign he’s been flashing in practice and impressing in the classroom. Al Golden has shown some significant trust in Bozeman’s understanding of his role in the defense. Keep a close eye on him.
- Cornerbacks (6):
Dax Hill, DJ Turner II, DJ Ivey, Jalen Davis, Ja’Sir Taylor, Bobo Davis
Cuts: Josh Newton, Ceyair Wright, Jalen Kimber, Bralyn Lux
Trags take:
Hill and the two Davises did not dress for the preseason opener. Taylor got first team reps at the slot and the two DJs played on the outside. Taylor, the veteran, appears to have the inside track here over Lux.
- Safeties (4):
Bryan Cook, Jordan Battle, Kyle Dugger, PJ Jules
Cuts:, Russ Yeast, Daijahn Anthony
Trags take: Battle here is the final spot, with Russ Yeast entering the mix with a game-sealing pick in the closing moments Thursday. It would appear that Jules, Anthony and Yeast are battling for that final position. Special teams figures to be a determining factor, giving Jules an advantage.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3):
- Kicker (1):
Evan McPherson
Cuts: None
Trags take:
McPherson took the momentum from training camp into the preseason, nailing a 56-yard field goal, to go with a 44-yarder and a 31-yarder and booting the extra point. Looks like his old reliable self.
- Punter/Holder(1):
Ryan Rehkow
Cuts: None
Trags take: Rehkow’s best moment came late Thursday when he pinned the Lions at their 9 with 25 seconds left with a 34-yard punt. He wasn’t exactly booming the kicks Thursday but still, a reliable, effective night. Five punts, three inside the 20, but wants to avoid the one touchback he had.
- Long snapper (1):
Williams Wagner
Cuts:
Trags take: Handled the rain and wet early with no problem on the snaps and the 3-for-3 effort in field goals.
