Bengals Beat: One Final Push As Decision Day Looms In Latest 53-man roster in Projection 4.0

CINCINNATI – Thursday marks the final chance for many on the Bengals roster to make a statement as to why they belong inside the Bengals locker room.

While there’s much focus on the 53-man roster, the 16-man practice squad is just as significant to the Bengals because their depth has already been put to the test.

The have lost reserves Chris Evans and D’Ante Smith to season-ending knee injuries. Myles Murphy came up injured Tuesday with a knee injury and is likely week-to-week with a reported MCL strain.

Several second and third-team players will get a chance to make a point against the Colts Thursday night. These players will round out the back end of the roster or fill the 16-man practice squad.

Ever NFL team needs to cut from a maximum of 90 players to 53 by Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. ET. The opener is Sunday, Sept. 8 vs. New England at Paycor Stadium.

CB DJ Ivey remains on the Active PUP list and is not practicing.

• Key Additions:

Free agents: Geno Stone, Vonn Bell, Sheldon Rankins, Trent Brown, Zack Moss, Mike Gesicki
Draft: Amarius Mims, Kris Jenkins Jr., Jermaine Burton, McKinnley Jackson, Erick All, Josh Newton, Tanner McLachlin, Cedric Johnson, Daijahn Anthony, Matt Lee

• Second-year risers:

Myles Murphy, DJ Turner II, Jordan Battle, Charlie Jones, Chase Brown, Brad Robbins, Andrei Iosivas, DJ Ivey, Shedrick Jackson

• Key Losses:

Free agents: Jonah Williams (Arizona), DJ Reader (Detroit), Tyler Boyd (Tennessee), Chidobe Awuzie (Tennessee), Nick Scott (Carolina), Mitchell Wilcox (New England)
Traded: Joe Mixon (Houston)
Injury: Cam Sample
Retired: Jeff Gunter

Without further ado, we present the fourth 2024 Bengals 53-man roster projection.

OFFENSE (24):

• Quarterback (2):

Joe Burrow, Jake Browning
Getting reps: Logan Woodside, Rocky Lombardi

Trags take: It’s assumed that Jake Browning’s rib injury will not keep him from starting the season as the backup to Joe Burrow. However, if he’s not the Bengals would like to see a little more from Logan Woodside. He took some massive hits including a blindside shot on a corner pressure that wasn’t picked up. He certainly showed toughness. Had he been given a tick more time in the pocket, he might not have thrown an interception that ended a promising Bengals drive in the second quarter.

• Running back (3):

Zack Moss, Chase Brown, Trayveon Williams
Getting reps: Chris Evans, Noah Cain, Elijah Collins
Injured Reserve: Chris Evans

Trags take: These three are locks. Evans’ season came to an end in the joint practice against the Bears. Moss and Brown have been bright spots so far in camp, showing both burst and pass catching ability.

• Tight end (4):

Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson, Erick All Jr.
Getting reps: Tanner McLachlin, Cam Grandy

Trags take: Rookie Erick All Jr. continues to amass more playing time. He shows he can block and catch. Tanner McLachlin figures to be one of those rarities, a draft pick that doesn’t make the roster. But certainly a practice squad developmental candidate.

• Wide Receiver (6):

Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Jermaine Burton, Trenton Irwin, Charlie Jones, Andrei Iosivas
Getting reps:Kwamie Lassiter II, Cole Burgess, Kendric Pryor, Hakeem Butler, Shedrick Jackson

Trags take: Nothing has changed about this list of six. With Charlie Jones dodging a bullet two weeks ago, the Bengals appear set to start the season with a versatile set of receivers. The only real storyline is whether Chase will begin practicing next week.

• Offensive line (9):

Orlando Brown Jr., Trent Brown, Amarius Mims, Matt Lee, Jaxson Kirkland, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, Cody Ford, Cordell Volson
Getting reps: Jackson Carman, Devin Cochran, Nate Gilliam, Eric Miller, Trey Hill
Injured Reserve:D’Ante Smith

Trags take: Hill, Carman, Cochran, Gilliam and Miller are playing simply this point to prove they have value on the practice squad. Hill and Carman have had a rough preseason in terms of penalties.

DEFENSE(26):

• Edge (5):

Trey Hendrickson, Sam Hubbard, Joseph Ossai, Myles Murphy, Cedric Johnson
Getting reps: Justin Blazek, Andre Carter
Injured Reserve: Cam Sample
Retired: Jeff Gunter

Trags take: The Bengals have dodged a pair of massive bullets with injuries to Sam Hubbard and Myles Murphy not as serious as initially thought. Both left practice early, Hubbard in the first week after a collision with Mike Gesicki while Myles Murphy sat in the front seat of a cart Tuesday and headed to the locker room. Hubbard will be ready to start the season while Murphy could be back within the first month of the season after Tuesday’s knee injury. Still, with Murphy getting injured and Jeff Gunter retiring before the preseason game in Chicago, the Bengals are suddenly very thin at the position.

• IDL (6):

Sheldon Rankins, B.J. Hill, Kris Jenkins Jr., McKinnley Jackson, Zach Carter, Jay Tufele
Getting reps: Domenique Davis, Travis Bell, Joshua Pryor, Carlos Davis

Trags take: McKinnley Jackson continues to rehab his right knee and will be out for several weeks. Thursday’s game against Indianapolis is one for the second and third-team reserves like Travis Bell, Domenique Davis, Joshua Pryor and Carlos Davis to make a move.

• Linebackers (5):

Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Joe Bachie, Maema Njongmeta
Getting reps: Aaron Casey, Devin Harper, Shaka Heyward

Trags take: Keep an eye on Maema Njongmeta. He’s been turning heads and coaches like his story and his work ethic. Now, that just needs to translate to the field and he figures to get plenty of time again Thursday. Another strong showing from Njongmeta might be enough to beat out Harper or that final roster spot.

• Cornerbacks (5):

Dax Hill, Mike Hilton, Cam Taylor-Britt, DJ Turner II, Josh Newton
Getting reps: Jalen Davis, Allan George, Nate Brooks, Lance Robinson, DJ Ivey

Trags take: Reading the tea leaves, Dax Hill has apparently pulled ahead for the job of starting corner opposite Cam Taylor-Britt. Hill has looked the part of a starting corner, making play after play, and bouncing back from instances when he’s been beat. Jalen Davis could be the 54th man on the roster.

• Safeties (5):

Vonn Bell, Geno Stone, Jordan Battle, Daijahn Anthony, Tycen Anderson
Getting reps: Michael Dowell, PJ Jules

Trags take: Daijahn Anthony has been turning heads and has settled nicely into a safety role. He continues to get occasional run with the first team in dime looks. His versatility at corner and safety help him immensely. The story here is Tycen Anderson and his role. He is valuable on special teams and will get more time in preseason in Lou Anarumo’s defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS (3):

• Kicker (1):

Evan McPherson
Getting reps: None

Trags take: With a three-year, $16.5 million extension in the books, the drama around McPherson is gone. McPherson hit a 54-yard field goal last week before the half for the only points the Bengals scored. He ended practice on a breezy day Tuesday with a 50+ yard field goal through the narrow uprights.

• Punter/Holder(1):

Brad Robbins
Getting reps: Ryan Rehkow

Trags take: Undrafted rookie Ryan Rehkow (RICO) has been getting valuable opportunity in the last week since Brad Robbins went down with an injury. The results have been mixed. Last week in Chicago, Rehkow punted six times for a 46.2 yard average with a long of 56 and one inside the 20. But Rehkow has had some trouble with consistency in hang time.

• Long snapper (1):

Cal Adomitis
Getting reps: None

Trags take: Adomitis, entering his third season, has done very well so far following in the footsteps of Clark Harris. Reliable and consistent. All Darrin Simmons wants out of that position.