We made it. The Cincinnati Bengals play football this week vs. the Detroit Lions. It’s only Preseason Week 1, but the starters are playing, and we’ve gone so long without football that most of us would take anything we could get at this point.
Since the Bengals play their first game against someone other than themselves this week, the team has released their first iteration of the 2026 depth chart.
There aren’t really any eye-popping surprises, but there are some interesting little tidbits of information
that can be found by reading between the lines.
Andrei Iosivas is WR3 and Colbie Young is WR6
This should be no surprise. Iosivas is a talented receiver, and of the guys on the roster outside of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, he has done the most damage on the field in the regular season. Behind Chase is Mitch Tinsley, who broke into the league last season, behind Iosivas is Charlie Jones (who is also on top of the depth chart as a return specialist), and behind Higgins is Young.
Cashius Howell moving on up
Despite being a rookie who needs to earn his keep, second-round pick Cashius Howell has already taken the second-string DE spot behind Boye Mafe, overtaking Isaiah Foskey, someone who’s flashed some potential and that Al Golden is very familiar with from their Notre Dame days. Howell has reportedly been a “monster” in training camp and could be primed for a major role this year, perhaps as the first edge player off the bench.
Drew Sample is TE1
The Bengals’ tight end situation is going to be very fluid. Who is on the field will depend on the situation the offense is in. Mike Gesicki is going to be the primary pass catcher from the position, but he’s more of a slot receiver than tight end.
This just shows that Sample is separated from the other tight ends on the roster, which includes Tanner Hudson, Erick All Jr., and Jack Endries.
Samaje Perine cemented as RB2
Chase Brown is RB1. That’s no surprise, but Perine will get plenty of playing time. He’s alone as RB2 while Tahj Brooks and several others are together at RB3. Perine, who will be 31 in September, is still a major part of this offense.
Depth on the defensive line
The defensive line has gone from a weakness of the Bengals to (hopefully) a strength. They added Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen, who are on top of the depth chart at defensive tackle. BJ Hill and TJ Slaton, last year’s starters, are backups on the depth chart.
Josh Newton in the doghouse
The Bengals didn’t do a lot of work at the cornerback position in the offseason outside of signing free agent Ja’Sir Taylor and drafting Tacario Davis in the draft. Josh Newton, who was a backup last year, has dropped far and is now a third-stringer. This tracks, based on what we’ve heard out of camp.
Jalen Davis and DJ Ivey at nickel
Davis starting in the slot should be no surprise. He’s been working in the slot for the Bengals since 2020, and was Mike Hilton’s backup. Ivey being the backup slot corner might be a surprise to some, though. He was a seventh-round pick in 2023, and possibly has found his spot on the roster.
What were your initial thoughts when you saw the depth chart?
Sound off!
