The Cincinnati Bengals will host their preseason opener Thursday when they face the Detroit Lions.
With that in mind, here are three important position battles to watch for as the night unfolds.
Nickel Corner
Jalen Davis is the likely starter at the position to begin the season after a strong finish to the season last year. His primary backup at the position seems a bit more up for grabs. Ja’Sir Taylor was a veteran addition the Bengals brought in this offseason. Taylor has 65 games of NFL experience, which could
help him make the 53-man roster.
The player that can push him for that spot on the roster is Bralyn Lux. Lux was getting some run with the first-team defense recently when Davis was given a rest day. While Lux spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad, the Bengals did call him up to the active roster for the final three games of the season last year.
Lux is a player I will be watching closely on Thursday.
Tight End
Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample are roster locks coming into the season. Erick All Jr. will not play during the preseason game on Thursday, but the Bengals love the versatility they get from him when he is healthy. The injury history makes the rest of what they do at this position more interesting.
Tanner Hudson has made plays when his number is called, and has been a staple on special teams the past couple of seasons. As of right now, he is likely to be the fourth tight end on the roster, if they choose to keep only four this year.
The Bengals also drafted Jack Endries in the seventh round of the 2026 draft. It has been a quiet camp for Endries, but the talented pass catcher could make a push starting Thursday.
The Bengals could even choose to keep five tight ends, but with the depth elsewhere this year, I have a tough time seeing that. This roster battle will likely come down to the veteran Hudson and the rookie Endries for the final spot on the 53-man roster. Endries will have to go out and earn it starting on Thursday.
Offensive Tackle
If the Bengals choose to keep 10 offensive linemen, there will be a battle for that 10th and final spot. Cody Ford is set to be the primary backup at the tackle position, but they could decide to keep another player on the 53-man roster at that position.
Candidates for that spot include Andrew Coker and Javon Foster. Both players were on the Bengals practice squad last season. The Bengals also added undrafted free agents Christian Jones and Corey Robinson II this year. Robinson is currently listed on the Bengals roster as a guard, but he played tackle in college.
One of those players will have to impress for the Bengals to opt to keep 10 offensive linemen. If not, I can see the Bengals keeping just nine players at the spot to start the season. Guys like Brian Parker II and Jalen Rivers could also kick out to tackle in a pinch, which may be a reason they go light at the position. How the depth of the position plays out is certainly something to watch on Thursday.
What roster battles are you most excited to watch this week?
