The Cincinnati Bengals
‘ preseason finale against Philadelphia isn’t likely to change the outlook for players who have already locked up their roster spots.But for the players on the bubble, it could be enormous.
One strong performance could secure a roster spot.
One mistake could open the door for a competitor.
And in some cases, the final decision may have very little to do with individual performance. Special teams value, positional flexibility, injuries, and overall roster construction could ultimately
determine who gets the final few jerseys.
That’s what makes this year’s roster so fascinating.
The Bengals appear to have considerably more depth than they did entering last season. Now they have to figure out how to fit all of it into 53 spots.
The final preseason game can’t come soon enough.
Absolutely. I’d make this version feel much more grounded in what we’ve actually seen during the 2026 camp and preseason, rather than simply revisiting a generic 53-man projection. The Bears game, in particular, changed the equation in several spots.
One note: I was able to access the current 2026 reporting and roster information surrounding the podcast topic, but the YouTube page itself isn’t exposing the video’s transcript/comments through the web interface, so I don’t want to invent or misattribute quotes from that specific podcast. I’ve therefore built this around the actual 2026 developments and can seamlessly add the podcast quotes if you paste the transcript or the relevant portions.
7 Bengals Roster Questions That Could Decide the Final 53
The Bengals have one preseason game remaining, and the final 53-man roster is becoming considerably more difficult to predict.
That’s a good problem to have.
After years in which Cincinnati’s roster depth — particularly on defense — left something to be desired, the Bengals now have legitimate NFL players competing for what could be just a handful of available spots. The additions of Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Kyle Dugger and others have dramatically changed the complexion of the roster. At the same time, several young players and newcomers have made legitimate pushes during training camp.
The first two preseason games have only made things more interesting.
The Bengals are 2-0 after beating the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, and Cincinnati’s backups handled Chicago’s starters particularly well in Saturday night’s 27-9 victory. Dohnte Meyers continued his remarkable preseason; rookie defensive tackle Landon Robinson made another impact, Josh Johnson threw two touchdown passes, and several other players strengthened their cases.
Now comes the difficult part.
Here are seven roster questions that could help determine which players are wearing Bengals uniforms when Week 1 arrives.
1. How many wide receivers can Cincinnati keep?
This might be the most difficult offensive decision.
Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas appear firmly entrenched. The real battle is behind them, where Colbie Young, Dohnte Meyers, Mitchell Tinsley, Charlie Jones and Ke’Shawn Williams are competing for a limited number of spots. And after Week 2 of the preseason, Noah Thomas now has a say.
The two preseason games have made the decision significantly more difficult.
Meyers has gone from an intriguing CFL addition to someone who increasingly looks like a player the Bengals need to find room for. Against Chicago, he caught five passes for 41 yards, added a nine-yard run, and contributed as a returner. His versatility has become a major part of his argument.
Then there’s Young, who caught a touchdown against Chicago and has consistently looked like a player capable of making an impact at the NFL level. Tinsley hasn’t disappeared from the conversation, either.
That could create a difficult decision involving Jones, who brings legitimate NFL experience and has been one of Cincinnati’s most valuable return options.
The question may ultimately become less about who deserves a roster spot and more about how many receivers the Bengals can afford to carry.
Six feels increasingly difficult to predict. Will the team like the size/speed combos provided by both Young and Thomas? Or, will they prefer “the devils they know,” in terms of Tinsley and Jones?
Seven might be necessary.
2. Who gets the final linebacker spot?
The linebacker competition hasn’t received quite as much attention as wide receiver or defensive line, but there could be a fascinating decision at the bottom of this group. The Bengals have veterans and young players competing for a limited number of positions, and special teams are likely an important factor.
That’s particularly relevant because Cincinnati has players who can contribute beyond defensive snaps.
Swayze Bozeman, for example, has continued to make noise with his special teams play, while other players such as Joe Giles-Harris, Shaka Heyward, and the younger linebackers are fighting for positioning.
The Bengals don’t necessarily need to carry a huge linebacker room. But they do need players who can contribute on special teams and give Al Golden some flexibility defensively.
That could make the final linebacker decision less about who has the best pure defensive upside and more about who can help Cincinnati win in multiple phases.
3. Josh Johnson or Sean Clifford — or both — to the practice squad?
This is a much more interesting question after what happened against Chicago. The Bengals have Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco at the top of the quarterback room, meaning the real competition for Johnson and Clifford is likely about what happens after the 53-man roster is established.
Johnson certainly helped himself.
The 40-year-old veteran completed 15 of 23 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns against Chicago, including scoring strikes to Colbie Young and Tanner Hudson. He showed command of the offense and handled the situation particularly well against a Bears defense that featured starters.
Clifford also had a strong night, throwing a touchdown to Noah Thomas. That creates a fascinating decision.
Even with the new rules, Cincinnati likely won’t keep three quarterbacks on the roster. Will they go with youth or experience on the practice squad?
Or, even more intriguing, is the possibility of a trade.
Does Cincinnati prefer Johnson’s experience or Clifford’s youth and developmental upside?
Johnson has spent years navigating NFL offenses and has the type of experience a team might want in an emergency quarterback. Clifford is younger and could benefit more from another season of development.
Both making the 53 seems unlikely. Both making the practice squad? It’s a possibility.
4. How many tight ends can the Bengals keep?
The tight end room has quietly become one of the biggest roster headaches.
Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample appear to be the safest bets, but after that, there are several players with legitimate arguments.
Tanner Hudson has proven NFL production and a strong connection with Cincinnati’s quarterbacks. Erick All Jr. is returning from injury and offers intriguing versatility. Rookie Jack Endries has been one of the more impressive young players of camp. Cam Grandy has contributed on special teams and even took a snap at long snapper against Chicago, while Josh Kattus remains another developmental option.
That’s seven players for a position where Cincinnati may only want to carry three or four.
Endries’ emergence is particularly noteworthy.
He was already showing promise in the preseason opener, and the Bengals continued to find ways to get him involved. The official roster outlook entering camp described the group as a combination of experienced pass catchers and blockers, with the returning All adding another dimension.
Now the Bengals have to decide whether the developmental upside of players such as Endries is worth using another 53-man roster spot. And Grandy could be the uncomfortable casualty.
5. Who gets the final cornerback spots?
The Bengals’ secondary is another position where the depth is making the final decisions difficult.
D.J. Turner, Dax Hill, Tacario Davis, Ja’Sir Taylor, D.J. Ivey, Josh Newton, Jalen Davis, Bralyn Lux, and others are competing for spots behind the players Cincinnati views as core pieces.
The addition of “Taco” Davis in the draft was significant, while the Bengals also added Taylor in free agency. The result is a numbers game.
And unlike in previous seasons, Cincinnati has the luxury of having legitimate competition. The question is whether the Bengals keep six cornerbacks or decide that seven gives them enough developmental depth to protect against injuries.
There is also the safety group’s versatility to consider. If Cincinnati believes some of its safeties can handle nickel or dime responsibilities, that could affect how many pure cornerbacks make the roster.
6. Will the Bengals keep five safeties?
This is where roster math gets particularly interesting.
Assuming everyone is healthy, Cincinnati has a strong collection of safeties featuring Kyle Dugger, Jordan Battle, and Bryan Cook.
That’s three spots already. Then there are players such as PJ Jules, Russ Yeast, and Daijahn Anthony competing for the remaining opportunity.
The Bengals have a legitimate argument for carrying five. This is especially true if they like the potential of Yeast, the son of former Bengals wide receiver Craig Yeast.
A fifth safety can contribute on special teams, provide depth against injuries, and give Al Golden more flexibility with his defensive packages. But that roster spot has to come from somewhere.
If Cincinnati needs another wide receiver, tight end, linebacker, or defensive lineman, the fifth safety could become expendable. And this is one of those decisions that might ultimately be determined by special teams value rather than defensive ability.
7. Who gets the final defensive line spot?
If you’re looking for the biggest change from the roster Cincinnati had a year ago, look no further than the defensive line. This group has gone from a potential weakness to arguably the deepest position on the roster.
Dexter Lawrence. Jonathan Allen. B.J. Hill. Kris Jenkins. T.J. Slaton. Landon Robinson. Then add the edge group and additional interior options.
The Bengals have accumulated too many players capable of making an NFL roster. And that’s why Landon Robinson’s emergence has been so important.
The rookie has been one of the biggest surprises of the preseason, recording another sack against Chicago after making his presence felt against Detroit. Cincinnati’s official coverage noted how quickly the rookie has established himself in the competition.
That could make the bottom of the defensive tackle group extremely difficult to sort out.
T.J. Slaton, for example, has NFL starting experience, but the arrival of Lawrence and Allen has fundamentally changed his place in the pecking order. McKinnley Jackson is another player facing a numbers crunch.
And Robinson may have played his way into the conversation. Through two preseason games, Robinson has two sacks and another would-be sack that forced a holding call.
That’s a remarkable development considering the Bengals’ biggest offseason defensive acquisition was arguably the best interior defensive lineman in football.
The Bengals’ Biggest Problem Is a Pretty Good One
The most interesting thing about Cincinnati’s roster situation heading into the final preseason game isn’t the huge holes.
It’s that there aren’t enough roster spots for all of the players who have made compelling arguments. Meyers has emerged. Robinson has emerged. Endries has emerged.
Young has made his case. Tinsley remains in the conversation, as does Thomas at wide receiver.
Johnson just threw two touchdown passes.
And players such as Slaton, Hudson and Jones have legitimate NFL experience that makes cutting them difficult. That’s what happens when a team improves its depth.
The Bengals aren’t simply trying to find 53 NFL-caliber players anymore. They’re trying to determine which 53 give them the best chance to win.
Make no mistake: special teams coach Darrin Simmons will have his say. The Bengals immensely respect his opinion, and his thumbprint has been on the back end of the roster for the better part of two decades.
Regardless, given what this team believes it can accomplish in 2026, those final few decisions could matter far more than they do on paper.
