Bengals 53-man roster prediction after a fun win vs. Bears in Preseason Week 2

Aug 22, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Colbie Young (86) catches a touchdown pass over Chicago Bears cornerback Dontae Manning (27) during the second quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Preseason

What is the story about?

Preseason Week 2 is in the books, and the Cincinnati Bengals are 2-0 (not that it really means anything). They handily defeated the Bears — who played their starters for a short period of time while the Bengals didn’t — by a score of 27-9.

The Bengals’ defense kept the Bears out of the end zone throughout the entire game, and both Josh Johnson and Sean Clifford were able to move the ball down the field.

Here’s where I think things stand for the 53-man roster after Week 2 of the preseason.

Previous editions:

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Quarterback (2)

Joe Burrow
Joe Flacco

Cut: Sean Clifford, Josh Johnson

Notes: No changes.

Running Back (3)

Chase Brown
Samaje Perine
Tahj Brooks

Cut: Gary Brightwell, Kentrell Bullock, Jamal Haynes, Kendall Milton

Notes: No changes, though I still think this is a sneaky position where the Bengals could add some depth/talent in free agency.

Wide Receiver (6)

Ja’Marr Chase
Tee Higgins
Andrei Iosivas
Dohnte Meyers
Mitchell Tinsley
Colbie Young

Cut: Xavier Johnson, Charlie Jones, Jordan Moore, Noah Thomas, Ke’Shawn Williams, Kendrick Pryor

Notes: Let’s get this out of the way: Chase, Higgins, and Iosivas are on the roster.

I cannot, however, justify keeping Jones on if it means that Meyers, Tinsley, or Young get cut. The Bengals aren’t going with seven wide receivers, so Chuck Sizzle is out.

Tight End (4)

Mike Gesicki
Drew Sample
Jack Endries
Erick All Jr.

Cut: Cam Grandy, Josh Kattus, Tanner Hudson

Notes: Four or five? That is the question. For now, I’m sticking with four.

Hudson is the hard cut here. He has the trust of both quarterbacks and coaches, but there are only so many mouths to feed.

Offensive Line (9)

Orlando Brown Jr.
Dylan Fairchild
Ted Karras
Dalton Risner
Amarius Mims
Cody Ford
Jalen Rivers
Conner Lew
Brian Parker II

Cut: Javon Foster, Corey Robinson II, Christian Jones, Liam Brown, Jacob Bayer, Andrew Coker

Notes: The Bengals’ starting line didn’t play and is set. The backup offensive linemen weren’t awe-inspiring on Saturday night. Ford struggled badly, and he seemed like he’d be the first lineman off the bench (outside of center) at the beginning of the season.

I hope the Bengals will be looking at backup linemen who are available when cuts are made around the league. Maybe they could trade for a swing tackle.

Defensive Line (11)

DE Boye Mafe
DT Dexter Lawrence II
DT Jonathan Allen
DE Shemar Stewart
DE Myles Murphy
DT B.J. Hill
DT Kris Jenkins Jr.
DT T.J. Slaton Jr.
DE Cashius Howell
DT Landon Robinson
DE Cedric Johnson

Cut: DE Isaiah Foskey, DT Howard Cross III, DT McKinnley Jackson, DT Jordan Jefferson

Notes: Hill has been cleared to practice and is going to be on the active roster. If I took anything away from Saturday’s game, it’s that Robinson will not only make this team, but he might push for some meaningful snaps in a very deep defensive tackle rotation. This is bad news for Jackson, Cross, and Jefferson.

The defensive line has gone from a position of weakness to great strength in just one offseason.

Linebackers (5)

Demetrius Knight Jr.
Barrett Carter
Oren Burks
Swayze Bozeman
Liam Anderson

Cut: Joe Giles-Harris, Jack Dingle, Eric Gentry, Antwan Powell-Ryland, Shaka Heyward

Notes: A little shakeup here. Anderson played well, as did Bozeman. I think the Bengals could keep five linebackers instead of the four I had them with last week.

Cornerback (6)

DJ Turner II
Dax Hill
Jalen Davis
DJ Ivey
Ja’Sir Taylor
Tacario Davis

Cut: Jalen Kimber, Bralyn Lux, Ceyair Wright, Josh Newton

Notes: I think this group of six is set. I would have liked to see the Bengals add another free agent here. Hopefully everyone is able to stay healthy.