The long summer is nearing an end, at least as far as football is concerned. The Cincinnati Bengals, along with the rest of the NFL, are preparing to return to work at training camp as the league gears up for the preseason. Over the next couple of weeks, the front office will have to whittle down 90 players to 53.
Here’s my prediction of who those 53 players will be as training camp begins.
Here are the first four versions:
Quarterback (2)
- Joe Burrow
- Joe Flacco
Cut: Sean Clifford, Josh Johnson
Notes: Unless there’s some sort of catastrophic injury, the two guys on the roster will be Burrow and Flacco.
Running Back (3)
- Chase Brown
- Samaje Perine
- Tahj Brooks
Cut: Gary Brightwell, Kentrell Bullock, Jamal Haynes, Kendall Milton
Notes: I think there’s a very small chance the Bengals could find a running back they like in free agency during camp to add to the three above. However, I also think Zac Taylor and Dan Pitcher are comfortable with Brown, Perine and Brooks. I also expect Brooks’ role to be expanded.
Wide Receiver (6)
- Ja’Marr Chase
- Tee Higgins
- Andrei Iosivas
- Charlie Jones
- Mitchell Tinsley
- Kendric Pryor
Cut: Xavier Johnson, Dohnte Myers, Jordan Moore, Noah Thomas, Ke’Shawn Williams
Notes: Chase and Higgins are the best WR duo in the league. Higgins would be WR1 on almost any other team; he just happens to be teammates with the best wide receiver in the world. After them, though, there’s a considerable drop. The WR3 job is up for grabs, and could be a revolving door for the Bengals, based on the situation. I do think the Bengals keep six wide receivers and that WR6 job is up for grabs. Chase, Higgins, Iosivas, Jones and Tinsley are locks.
Tight End (4)
- Mike Gesicki
- Drew Sample
- Tanner Hudson
- Erick All Jr.
Active/NFI: Josh Kattus
Cut: Cam Grandy, Jack Endries
Notes: Gesicki is a tight end in name, but plays more like a slot receiver. Sample is used as an extra blocker more often than not, though watching him rumble forward with the ball is always incredible. Hudson has the trust of the coaches, and a healthy All could cut into the playing time of all of the guys ahead of him on the depth chart.
Hopefully the Bengals would be able to keep Endries on the practice squad.
Offensive Line (10)
- Orlando Brown Jr.
- Dylan Fairchild
- Ted Karras
- Dalton Risner
- Amarius Mims
- Cody Ford
- Jalen Rivers
- Andrew Coker
- Conner Lew
- Brian Parker II
Cut: OT Javon Foster, OT Corey Robinson II, OT Christian Jones, G Liam Brown, C Jacob Bayer
Notes: For the first time in Joe Burrow’s career, he’ll have the same offensive line lined up in front of him for two consecutive seasons. Risner joined the team during training camp last season and fit right in at right guard. Ford is their swing tackle right now.
Defensive Line (9)
- DE Boye Mafe
- DT Dexter Lawrence II
- DT Jonathan Allen
- DE Shemar Stewart
- DE Myles Murphy
- DT Kris Jenkins Jr.
- DT T.J. Slaton Jr.
- DE Cashius Howell
- DT Landon Robinson
PUP: BJ Hill
Cut: DE Isaiah Foskey, DE Cedric Johnson, DT Howard Cross III, DT McKinnley Jackson, DT Jordan Jefferson
Notes: Hill starting the season on PUP would have really thrown the Bengals for a loop had it not been for how active they were in free agency. They have Lawrence and Allen still, and Jenkins and Slaton as backups. When Hill returns, I expect he’ll be the 10th defensive lineman, and a cut will come from elsewhere.
If Hill gets activated off PUP before final cuts, then things could get really dicey. Do they cut a promising rookie like Landon Robinson? Or does T.J. Slaton become a cap casualty?
Linebackers (5)
- Demetrius Knight Jr.
- Barrett Carter
- Oren Burks
- Joe Giles-Harris
- Shaka Heyward
Cut: Liam Anderson, Swayze Bozeman, Jack Dingle, Eric Gentry, Antwan Powell-Ryland
Notes: The linebacker position was BAD in 2025, but both Knight and Carter were rookies, and they had a subpar defensive line in front of them. Now with Lawrence, the most double-teamed nose tackle in the league, occupying linemen, hopefully they’ll both have more space to move and do their jobs.
However, if there’s a position where the Bengals could add a free agent during camp where they’d immediately make an impact, it’s at linebacker.
Cornerback (6)
- DJ Turner II
- Dax Hill
- Jalen Davis
- Josh Newton
- Ja’Sir Taylor
- Tacario Davis
Cut: Jalen Kimber, Bralyn Lux, Ceyair Wright
Notes: The only other position I would have liked to see the Bengals add a free agent or a draft pick is at corner. I like Turner and Hill as the team’s two outside corners, and I think Davis can be a solid slot corner. The issue is depth at the position. If there’s an injury, and there often is, I feel like their lack of depth could be a problem.
This is the other position I could see the Bengals adding a free agent during camp, especially if someone with a little experience is available.
Safety (5)
- Bryan Cook
- Jordan Battle
- Kyle Dugger
- PJ Jules
- Daijahn Anthony
Cut: Russ Yeast, Isaiah Nwokobia
Notes: Cook’s signing was overshadowed by the team’s trade for Lawrence, but his addition could have just as much of an impact. The Bengals have struggled at safety since Jessie Bates left in free agency, but Cook, Battle and Dugger represent the best three they’ve had on the roster since the days of Bates and Vonn Bell.
Special Teams (3)
- K – Evan McPherson
- P – Ryan Rehkow
- LS – William Wagner
Cut: None
Notes: No notes.
What do you think?
Sound off.
