Bengals’ upcoming opponent poaches former undrafted standout and could play him against them
The Cincinnati Bengals have lost practice squad linebacker Shaka Heyward, and they could be playing against him very soon.
The Cincinnati Bengals have lost practice squad linebacker Shaka Heyward.
Per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, Heyward has been signed by the Miami Dolphins. He is now a member of their 53-man roster.
Cincinnati just poached wide receiver Mitch Tinsley from the Houston Texans practice squad. Now the Bengals experience the opposite by losing a former special teams contributor to a team coming up on their schedule.
Bengals may face Heyward in two weeks
Heyward’s departure from Cincinnati comes just two weeks before the Bengals travel down to Miami and faced the Dolphins in NFL Week 5. Should Heyward stay on the roster beyond this week, there’s a good chance he’ll play snaps against his former team.
Miami was in need of LB depth. Rookie Kyle Louis injured his MCL back in Week 1, and Ronnie Harrison Jr. was placed on the Reserve/Injured list not long after. Heyward now takes an important depth spot behind Jordyn Brooks, Jacob Rodriguez, Willie Gay and Jackson Woodard.
If he’s active for Week 5, Heyward will likely see special teams snaps against the Bengals. He took 301 ST reps for the club from 2024-25. It’s why he was signed to the active roster from the practice squad as a rookie, and made the initial 53-man roster last season.
Another move is soon needed
The Bengals signed LB Joe Giles-Harris off their practice squad last week when wide receiver Andrei Iosivas went on I.R. Heyward was the only LB remaining on the practice squad, and there are just five remaining in the building.
Another LB will need to be added to the practice squad to replace Heyward.
We’ll have more clarity soon when Cincinnati officially announces the loss of Heyward, and the return of Tinsley.
