The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-0 after they handily defeated the Chicago Bears on Saturday night by a score of 27-9. The Bengals’ starters didn’t play, and even though the Bears starters did play (briefly), the game was very one-sided.
After their first preseason game, I attempted to predict who was safe on the roster and who is “on the bubble.” Now that their second preseason game is in the book, I’m going to give another crack at it.
Here’s version 1.0
Offense
Locks:
- 1 – WR Ja’Marr Chase
- 5 – WR Tee Higgins
- 9 – QB Joe Burrow
- 16 – QB Joe Flacco
- 25 – HB Tahj Brooks
- 30 – HB Chase Brown
- 34 – HB Samaje Perine
- 61 – G Brian Parker II
- 63 – G Dylan Fairchild
- 64 – C Ted Karras
- 65 – C Connor Lew
- 66 – G Dalton Risner
- 71 – OT Amarius Mims
- 75 – OT Orlando Brown Jr.
- 80 – WR Andrei Iosivas
- 81 – WR Dohnte Meyers
- 83 – TE Erick All Jr.
- 84 – TE Jack Endries
- 86 – WR Colbie Young
- 88 – TE Mike Gesicki
- 89 – TE Drew Sample
Notes: I can’t justify keeping Jones on this
list and not Meyers and Young. They’ve both earned their spot as WR4 and WR5. WR6 is still up in the air.
Along the line, outside of the starting five, not much is certain. I think Parker is safe as he can play multiple positions, but the Bengals would be very smart to find a new swing tackle before the season starts.
At tight end, I’m just not sure if the Bengals keep four or five. If they keep four, I think the four on the list are the four that make it.
Bubble Players:
- 4 – QB Sean Clifford
- 11 – QB Josh Johnson
- 12 – WR Ke’Shawn Williams
- 14 – WR Jordan Moore
- 15 – WR Charlie Jones
- 17 – WR Noah Thomas
- 18 – WR Xavier Johnson
- 19 – WR Kendric Pryor
- 24 – HB Jamal Haynes
- 31 – HB Kentrel Bullock
- 32 – HB Gary Brightwell
- 36 – HB Kendall Milton
- 48 – TE Josh Kattus
- 52 – DE Cedric Johnson
- 59 – G Liam Brown
- 69 – C Jacob Bayer
- 73 – OT Javon Foster
- 76 – OT Christian Jones
- 77 – G Corey Robinson II
- 79 – OT Andrew Coker
- 82 – WR Mitch Tinsley
- 85 – TE Cam Grandy
- 87 – TE Tanner Hudson
Notes: Charlie Jones falls to the bubble list. I think he and Tinsley fight it out for WR6. Jones is a talented return specialist, but I don’t think the coaching staff can justify a roster spot over Tinsley just because of that.
Hudson is a big question. If the Bengals keep five tight ends—and they might—then he’s on the team. If they don’t, though, I don’t see Hudson taking a spot from one of the other four.
Defense
Locks:
- 0 – CB DJ Turner
- 6 – S Bryan Cook
- 20 – CB Tacario Davis
- 23 – CB Dax Hill
- 27 – S Jordan Battle
- 29 – S Kyle Dugger
- 35 – CB Jalen Davis
- 42 – LB Oren Burks
- 44 – LB Demetrius Knight Jr
- 49 – LB Barrett Carter
- 53 – DE Boye Mafe
- 55 – DE Cashius Howell
- 74 – G Jalen Rivers
- 90 – DT Kris Jenkins Jr.
- 92 – DT BJ Hill
- 93 – DT Jonathan Allen
- 94 – DE Shemar Stewart
- 96 – DT Landon Robinson
- 97 – DT Dexter Lawrence II
- 98 – DT T.J. Slaton Jr.
- 99 – DE Myles Murphy
Notes: The defensive line depth is crazy. The Bengals have the potential to have a defensive tackle rotation that keeps everybody healthy deep into the postseason. I still think Jenkins is in, but it’s close.
Linebacker, outside of Knight, Carter and Burks, is pretty open. The Bengals could look at free agency if they don’t like the way the competition plays out as well.
Then in the secondary, there are only a handful of corners that deserve to be considered “safe.” Hill, Davis, Turner, and Davis have secured spots, but I think the other two are up for grabs. Similarly, the last safety position behind Cook, Battle, and Dugger is up for grabs.
Bubble Players:
- 21 – CB Bralyn Lux
- 22 – CB Ceyair Wright
- 26 – CB Ja’Sir Taylor
- 28 – CB Josh Newton
- 33 – S Daijahn Anthony
- 37 – S PJ Jules
- 38 – CB DJ Ivey
- 39 – S Russ Yeast
- 40 – CB Jalen Kimber
- 43 – LB Joe Giles-Harris
- 45 – LB Liam Anderson
- 47 – LB Swayze Bozeman
- 50 – LB Shaka Heyward
- 51 – DE Isaiah Foskey
- 56 – DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland
- 57 – LB Eric Gentry
- 58 – LB Jack Dingle
- 68 – DT Jordan Jefferson
- 91 – DT McKinnley Jackson
- 95 – DT Howard Cross III
Notes: There’s a lot of talent on this list, and I’m sure a handful of these guys are going to make the roster, but all of them are fighting for that spot right now.
The big battles are at linebacker, for the fourth or fifth spot, the last couple of corner spots, and the final safety slot.
It’s possible the Bengals could look into free agency, but I think they’re much more likely to sign an offensive player, a tackle or even a running back, before they sign someone for Al Golden’s crew.
What do you think?
Sound off!
