Bengals place Charlie Jones on IR, claim former Cowboys LB off waivers
The Cincinnati Bengals have made two roster moves as they get set to travel south for their Week 4 game against the Tennessee Titans. Rookie wide receiver and punt returner Charlie Jones has been placed on the Reserve/Injured list. Taking his roster spot, for now, is linebacker Devin Harper, whom the Bengals claimed off waivers. […]
The Cincinnati Bengals have made two roster moves as they get set to travel south for their Week 4 game against the Tennessee Titans.
Rookie wide receiver and punt returner Charlie Jones has been placed on the Reserve/Injured list. Taking his roster spot, for now, is linebacker Devin Harper, whom the Bengals claimed off waivers.
Jones, the Bengals' fourth-round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft, suffered a thumb injury against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3. The injury caused him to miss all three practices this week, and now he'll be out for a minimum of four weeks.
While he hasn't gotten many opportunities as a receiver, Jones was finding his stride as the Bengals' punt returner. He ran back the team's first punt return touchdown in 11 years against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2, and is averaging 9.9 yards per return outside of that 81-yard score.
Cincinnati will have find a short-term replacement for Jones in that role. Fellow receiver Trenton Irwin has the most experience returning punts, and rookie cornerback DJ Turner II also dabbled in college at Michigan.
Harper, a second-year player out of Oklahoma State University, originally was a sixth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2022. He has played in six career regular-season games, including the first three of this season. He was waived by Dallas on Thursday.
Harper could end up making his debut this week as linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither is questionable with a knee injury. Expect Harper to only see the field for special teams.
Bengals will be without two key players vs. Titans
Adjustments will be made on offense and special teams for Cincinnati.
