With the arrival of the Cincinnati Bengals' preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles comes the last, best chance for players on the roster bubble to state their case for the 53-man roster.
The Bengals will close out preseason play against the Eagles on Aug. 28 at Lincoln Financial Field (8 p.m. EDT), and while you won't see one second of first-team actionfor either team, there's still plenty of intrigue as the game falls less than 48 hours ahead of the Aug. 30 6 p.m. deadline for roster cuts.
Cincinnati has big decisions to work through, and a game against a reasonably deep Eagles team should offer plenty of answers and information.
Here are three players to watch in the Bengals-Eagles game who likely need to perform in order to secure
a spot on the 53-man roster:
Javon Foster, Bengals offensive lineman
Cincinnati needs to keep quarterback Joe Burrow healthy and upright, so it stands to reason the battle at swing tackle between Javon Foster and Jalen Rivers is the most important position battle still going in training camp.
Think of it like this: The player that emerges on top here will effectively be the first backup for Burrow's offensive line. Pretty important, right?
Rivers was a Cincinnati draft pick in 2025 while Foster, who started for Missouri in their 2023 Cotton Bowl upset of Ohio State, was on the Bengals practice squad last year. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024, and signed to join Cincinnati's practice squad late in the 2025 preseason.
Ahead of the preseason finale, Bengals tackle Orlando Brown Jr. had high praise for Foster and Rivers because both players improved throughout training camp. Brown certainly didn't play favorites while dissecting their position battle, but he had some high praise for Foster's skillset: "Javon's got great feet. To me, I think that's probably his strong-suit, which is really the hardest part of playing this sport at any position, but especially at tackle. He's got amazing feet. He does a great job with his base as well. I think what I've seen from him over the last year is a lot of growth in terms of raw confidence, being able to throw his hands comfortably, being able to have counters and reactions to certain rushes. Those were things that weren't necessarily great for him last year but he's been able to (improve) as the last year has gone on.
"Those are his strong-suits and one of the reasons he's in this position."
Head coach Zac Taylor has said this competition can extend beyond the deadline for roster decisions. It's also possible Cincinnati learns the actual answer to its swing-tackle issue will have to come from outside the organization. But don't overlook the upwardly-mobile Foster when he gets on the field at "The Linc."
Bengals receiver Charlie Jones
It looks like Charlie Jones has some work to do in order to keep his roster spot with the Bengals. Here's why: The top half of the wide receiver pecking order is clear (Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas). After them, the next three players getting the plaudits and reps to suggest they're in are: Mitch Tinsley, Colbie Young, a Bengals fourth-round 2026 NFL Draft pick, and Dohnte Meyers, the 26-year-old CFL veteran without intercollegiate power-conference experience.
So, no room for Jones there. But Jones is also an explosive return specialist, right? That's true, but Meyers and Ka'Shawn Williams fielded nine of the team's 11 return opportunities through two preseason games. The other opportunities went to Tahj Brooks and Jones, who each fielded one apiece. So, no room for Jones there? Maybe not, and it's possible there aren't enough snaps to be had in Philly to help his case.
Jones will more than likely land on his feet with an NFL job, but his stay in Cincinnati looks like it could really be in danger. He won't go out without a fight, which is why he'll be worth watching in Philly.
Jack Endries, tight end
The Bengals have a loaded tight end room, but is it too loaded for even their recently-drafted rookie, Jack Endries? Endries earned time with Cincinnati's second-team offense during the Aug. 13 preseason opener against the Detroit Lions, and tallied the only touchdown of the game on a catch-and-run linkup with quarterback Joe Flacco. His second preseason game wasn't as flashy.
Endries could be up against Cam Grandy for a 53-man spot versus a place on the practice squad. The preseason finale should tell us a lot about where that conversation is headed as the organization barrels toward the deadline for roster decisions.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 3 important Bengals players to watch in the team's preseason finale
