Training camp and the preseason are finished, and the Cincinnati Bengals have trimmed their roster down to the 53 men required to start the regular season, which begins in about a week and a half.
Between now and then, it’s possible the Bengals add someone or move a few things around, but what we have right now is likely pretty close to what we’ll see in Week 1.
There weren’t a ton of HUGE surprises, but there were a few.
Here are some thoughts on the Bengals’ 53-man roster:
- I was happy to see Landon Robinson make the final 53, but I don’t think there was ever much doubt that he would. He’s the kind of kid you love to root for, and I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of him, even though the Bengals’ defensive tackle rotation is very deep.
- I waffled back and forth over the last few days on what would happen with Tanner Hudson. It’s not that he didn’t deserve a spot; I just didn’t know if the Bengals would keep five tight ends, and I was confident he’d be the first one out the door if they chose to keep only four. In the end, I was right and wrong. They kept him initially, then dropped him to pick up offensive tackle Myles Hinton.
- The biggest surprise came at wide receiver. I was pretty shocked to see Ke’Shawn Williams make it over Mitchell Tinsley and Charlie Jones. I figured the final wide receiver spot would go to either Jones, because of his ability as a return specialist, or Tinsley, who turned a lot of heads last season. In the end, it went to neither. That means Williams is the new return specialist. I was also somewhat surprised to see Jones clear waivers and not even sign with a practice squad (as of this writing). Tinsley, meanwhile, was quickly claimed by the Texans.
- Josh Newton’s addition is likely a result of Ja’Sir Taylor being placed on IR with a designation to return because of a hamstring issue. Newton spent much of the preseason in the doghouse, but now he has at least the next four weeks to prove he belongs on the roster for good.
- Speaking of IR, it’s great news that Shemar Stewart avoided it. It’s not that there was much conversation about him being placed there, but it was still a relief knowing that, even if he isn’t ready for Week 1, we won’t automatically be waiting until Week 5 to see him.
What is the thinnest position
now that the roster is set?
I’d have to go with linebacker and running back. What say you?
Is there anything the Bengals can realistically do about either position right now? I’m not sure there’s anyone sitting around who could help them in a meaningful way. Bobby Wagner is still out there, but I feel like if that were going to happen, it probably would have happened by now.
So, for the most part, I think this roster is set.
Still, even with the lack of depth at running back and linebacker, I am very excited about this team.
Offensively, the Bengals are a massive bomb ready to explode at any moment. There isn’t a defense in the NFL that can completely shut this offense down. There’s just too much talent. Sure, you can slow down Ja’Marr Chase, but then you have Tee Higgins to deal with. Take those two away, and there’s Mike Gesicki, Andrei Iosivas and the running backs. And, of course, Joe Burrow is the guy pulling the trigger.
Good luck.
And I’m just as excited about the defense.
I wish they would have done more at linebacker, and I wouldn’t have complained about another veteran cornerback, but I think this has a chance to be the Bengals’ best defense since the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
The defensive line is going to be so much better, and that improvement will trickle all the way back to the safeties. A defensive back’s best friend is a quarterback who doesn’t have time to throw.
Remember how things worked when DJ Reader was soaking up blockers in the middle of the defensive line? It should be like that again.
There are still plenty of variables. Health is a huge one, and there is little anyone can do to control that. A couple of key injuries can change the trajectory of an entire season overnight.
Usually, when we reach this point in the offseason, I’m disappointed.
I’ve almost always felt like the Bengals didn’t do enough to improve. That they left obvious holes unfilled. That they were counting too heavily on young players developing or injured players staying healthy. That too much was being left up to chance.
I don’t feel that way right now.
They took some big swings this offseason. They addressed major weaknesses. They added legitimate difference-makers. Are there still holes? Absolutely. But any complaints I have about this roster as it stands today feel more like nitpicking than legitimate grievances.
For once, I’m not looking at the roster and thinking about what the Bengals should have done.
I’m looking at what they actually did.
And I like it.
There’s a 14-3 team in that 53-man roster.
Hopefully we get to see it.
Relative Song Lyrics: 🦋
‘Cause I can see the light of a clear blue morning
I can see the light of a brand new day
I can see the light of a clear blue morning
Oh, and everything’s gonna be all right
It’s gonna be okay
