Bengals Beat: PJ Jules, Mitchell Tinsley, Shaka Heyward in Focus For 2025 Camp 53-man Projection 2.0

CINCINNATI – The defense has lots of work to do. Mitchell Tinsley is making a serious push for a roster spot. The right guard spot continues to be point of focus.

All of this and more came under the spotlight during Cincinnati’s 31-17 preseason win over the Washington Commanders Monday night in Landover, Md.

Injuries to Cordell Volson, Cody Ford and Lucas Patrick have put the interior offensive line again under the spotlight. The fact that the Bengals put rookie Jalen Rivers in with first team unit at right guard is also telling of where the Bengals see the depth and the fact the Bengals wanted a closer look at the rookie surrounded with first team talent.

Tinsley’s two terrific TD grabs and all-around productive effort raise eyebrows and perhaps earned him a spot.

• 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 projection 2.0.

OFFENSE (25):

• Quarterback (2):

Joe Burrow, Jake Browning
Getting reps: Desmond Ridder, Payton Thorne

Trags take: Burrow took his first serious hits of the preseason Monday night, including a scary horse-collar tackle that was flagged. Burrow finished 9-for-14 for 62 yards with a touchdown pass to Charlie Jones, scoring touchdowns on two of three series. That gives him touchdowns on four of five preseason possessions. Not bad for the franchise quarterback. He’ll sit out the preseason finale against Indianapolis this Saturday. Jake Browning had a very solid night, bouncing back from an uneven effort on Aug. 7 against Philadelphia. Against the Commanders, Browning completed 16-of-25 for 159 yards and touchdowns of 13 and 21 yards to Mitchell Tinsley. This Saturday figures to be Desmond Ridder and Payton Thorne against Lou Anarumo’s backups of Indy.

• Running back (3):

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

Trags take: This hasn’t changed. Brown, Perine and Brooks are locks. Milton, Brightwell and Conley looking to make an impression for practice squad spots or another NFL roster.

• Tight end (4):

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

Trags take: This room is pretty much set. Grandy and McLachlan will see the majority of time Saturday.

• Wide Receiver (6):

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

Trags take: Burton is dealing with knee swelling but that has subsided to the point where he’s on the rehab field working out. He should be safely on the roster. The move here is Tinsley beating out Isaiah Williams on the strength of a terrific camp and two highlight touchdown grabs in 20 seconds against the Commanders in two-minute situations. If Tinsley doesn’t see the field Saturday, you know the decision has likely been made. Charlie Jones is the first-team returner. He’s a lock at this point, which speaks to how hard he’s worked in the offseason and carried it over to camp and preseason.

• Offensive line (10):

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

Trags take: This is the unit that is in flux at the backend of the room. Cordell Volson’s injury could open a spot, as he is a candidate for IR or an injury settlement. Either way, can’t imagine him part of the 53-man unit at this point. Tough break for Volson, as he is well-liked and respected in the room but there’s no time for sentimental choices here. If the Bengals sign 30-year-old veteran Dalton Risner, then he bumps Kirkland.

DEFENSE(25):

• Edge (5):

Trey Hendrickson, Joseph Ossai, Shemar Stewart, Myles Murphy, Cam Sample
Getting reps: Isaiah Thomas, Raymond Johnson III, Cedric Johnson (IR)

Trags take: Obviously, this assumes Hendrickson (extension or not) is on the field. Shemar Stewart takes the spot and role of Sam Hubbard. Ossai is back. Murphy has lots and lots to prove and now is battling through an injury. Ossai didn’t have a great performance Monday night but the Bengals brought him back to have big moments off the edge in the regular season and show an urgency. They’re betting on him to return to last year’s form.

• IDL (5):

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

Trags take: Cross is the big story here at the back end. He is shorter but stout and has looked very competent in his reps with first team. Al Golden’s knowledge of him at Notre Dame and his pedigree with NFL lineage doesn’t hurt either. This gives the Bengals five IDL and takes away an edge from the group.

• Linebackers (5):

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

Trags take: Logan Wilson has not had the greatest of preseasons but Golden knows him better than anyone, and the defensive calls have been basic. Once the calls become more complex in regular season, Golden wants a body like Wilson who knows where to be. Some might argue can he get to those spots but he’s still well-respected in the room and his spot should be very safe. The battle here is among three linebackers, Giles-Harris, Shaka Heyward and Maema Njongmeta, and it’s a very intriguing and extremely tight one. One small tell could be that Heyward was on first team special teams Monday night. Heyward also had six tackles, and a quarterback hit Monday. Heyward is popular and, in terms of his special teams value, he knows the Darrin Simmons system.

• Cornerbacks (6):

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

Trags take: Not much has changed from the Philly game. Hill, Taylor-Britt and Newton are locks. DJ Ivey would appear to have a solid place given his special teams contributions, which are significant. Then there are Turner and Wilson. Turner’s injury is a twist in the evaluation. If it’s minor, then he’s likely safe. Davis and Lux could be stiff competition, with Davis having nickel experience and a place on special teams. Loyal and Brooks will get their chance to impress. Could Hill start at nickel? Special teams was much improved Monday night and that bodes very well for Ivey and Wilson. This could be one of those watch who plays a lot on Saturday. That’s usually a tell of who’s on the outside looking in.

• Safeties (4):

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

Trags take: This has changed. Jules has impressed coaches with his work habits. The Southern Illinois product has made plays throughout camp and in the games. If Anthony plays a lot on Saturday, you know that the coaches are probably ready to move on. A spot on the practice squad is certainly in the mix for the seventh-rounder from 2024.

SPECIAL TEAMS (3):

• Kicker (1):

Evan McPherson
Getting reps: None

Trags take: After drilling kicks of 38 and 51 yards for field goals and converted all three extra points in the preseason opener, McPherson hit a 54-yard field goal late Monday and converted all four extra points. That’s 3-for-3 on FGs and 7-for-7 on PATs. After correcting to a more “straightaway” kick vs. a draw, it certainly looks like he’s back on track for 2025.

• Punter/Holder(1):

Ryan Rehkow
Getting reps:

Trags take: Ryan Rehkow had another terrific coffin corner punt Monday. Four punts for a 40.3 average and a net of 37.0. The punts haven’t been extraordinary but the results have been solid and the Bengals will certainly take the directional kicks he’s exhibited in preseason, and the two coffin corner kicks are good.

• Long snapper (1):

Cal Adomitis
Getting reps: William Wagner

Trags take: It would appear that Adomitis has this job after taking a run from rookie undrafted free agent William Wagner. His snap on McPherson’s 54-yarder was perfect. If it’s Wagner for most of or all of Saturday, then you know.