Bengals 53-man roster projection before Week 1 of preseason
Training camp whizzes by you in the blink of an eye, and the preseason moves even quicker. The Cincinnati Bengals are getting prepared for a joint practice and preseason game against the Green Bay Packers with a young roster eager to hit someone other than their own teammates. What has the first two weeks of […]
Training camp whizzes by you in the blink of an eye, and the preseason moves even quicker. The Cincinnati Bengals are getting prepared for a joint practice and preseason game against the Green Bay Packers with a young roster eager to hit someone other than their own teammates.
What has the first two weeks of training camp told us about how the Week 1 roster will shake out? Here's our latest 53-man roster projection before the break begins.
Note: Players with single asterisk (*) are 2023 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2023 undrafted free agents.
Quarterback (2)
IN: Joe Burrow, Jake Browning
OUT: Trevor Siemian, Reid Sinnett
The skinny: Burrow's calf strain has put both Siemian and Browning in the spotlight with the 1s, and Browning might have the slightest edge so far. The preseason will still be the deciding factor here.
Running back (3)
IN: Joe Mixon, Trayveon Williams, Chase Brown*
OUT: Chris Evans, Calvin Tyler Jr.**, Jacob Saylors**
The skinny: Williams has missed some time with an ankle injury, but he'll return before long. He was the favorite to win the third down job behind Mixon and that hasn't changed. Evans has had a decent camp as well, but it might just come down to the numbers. Can there be room for four?
Wide receiver (7)
IN: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Trenton Irwin, Stanley Morgan Jr., Charlie Jones*, Andrei Iosivas*
OUT: Trent Taylor, Kwamie Lassiter II, Shedrick Jackson**, Malachi Carter**, Mac Hippenhammer**
The skinny: An impressive rookie offseason for Iosivas continued into camp. Morgan has quickly established no one is getting by him for gunner duties so he's safe. Jones still has to show competency as a punt returner in live action to knock Taylor off the roster entirely, but that's to be expected. Seven receivers for this team is not too many.
Tight end (3)
IN: Irv Smith Jr., Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson
OUT: Devin Asiasi, Nick Bowers, Christian Trahan**
PUP: Mitchell Wilcox
The skinny: Smith looks like he belongs in this offense, and Hudson is turning into this year's version of the unknown receiver impressing in camp, only he's a tight end. He can actually move as a receiver, something Sample and Asiasi cannot. There should be room for just one of those extra blockers. Wilcox returning soon would create an interesting dynamic.
Offensive line (9)
IN: Orlando Brown Jr., Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, Jonah Williams, Jackson Carman, Cody Ford, Max Scharping, Trey Hill
OUT: Hakeem Adeniji, D'Ante Smith, Nate Gilliam, Ben Brown, Jaxson Kirkland**
PUP: La'el Collins
IR: Devin Cochran
The skinny: Scharping and Hill trading off at guard and center means they're to be given every chance to grab the backup interior spots with Brown and Kirkland breathing down their necks. But what's up at tackle behind OBJ, Williams, and Carman? Collins hasn't practiced yet so staying on the PUP seems likely. A three-way preseason battle between Ford, Adeniji, and Smith feels imminent. Smith's inclusion is just a courtesy.
Defensive line (10)
IN: Trey Hendrickson, DJ Reader, B.J. Hill, Sam Hubbard, Joseph Ossai, Cam Sample, Zach Carter, Josh Tupou, Jay Tufele, Myles Murphy*
OUT: Jeff Gunter, Tarell Basham, Raymond Johnson III, Domenique Davis, Owen Carney, Tautala Pesefea**
IR: Devonnsha Maxwell**
The skinny: Basham getting hurt the same day Burrow went down has gotten lost in the hoopla, but it's really dampened his chances of making this a six-deep rotation at edge. Gunter has the best chance to make that happen now. All's been quiet here, as expected. The pads haven't come close to being put on yet, so we're further in the conjecture phase here than anywhere else. No changes from last time.
Linebacker (5)
IN: Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Markus Bailey, Joe Bachie
OUT: Keandre Jones, Shaka Heyward**, Jaylen Moody**, Tyler Murray**
The skinny: Wilson and Pratt will be playing together for three more years, and Wilson specifically is under contract for the next five. The reserves aren't getting challenged much from the outside looking in.
Cornerback (6)
IN: Chidobe Awuzie, Cam Taylor-Britt, Mike Hilton, DJ Turner II*, Jalen Davis, DJ Ivey*
OUT: Sidney Jones IV, Allan George, Marvin Tell III
The skinny: Like Iosivas, Ivey has done everything to keep his name in the conversation. I think his length and ball skills make him a much tougher cut than Jones, though the latter has taken first-team reps with Awuzie working back from injury. This is the most intriguing preseason battle to me considering how close it is between the rookie and vet. Maybe the answer is to keep both and go with seven.
Safety (5)
IN: Dax Hill, Nick Scott, Jordan Battle*, Tycen Anderson, Michael Thomas
OUT: Yusuf Corker, Larry Brooks III**
The skinny: Hill and Scott have adjusted to their new homes. Battle has seen some first-team reps, but not enough to make the argument he's actually challenging Scott right now. Anderson and Thomas will both be counted on for special teams.
Special Teams (3)
IN: Cal Adomitis (LS), Brad Robbins* (P), Evan McPherson (K)
OUT: Drue Chrisman (P)
The skinny: You gotta feel for Chrisman. This was already a battle he was unlikely to win, and then he gets hospitalized at the start of camp. Robbins hasn't done anything but look like the punter he was drafted to be. This feels over already.
Featured image via © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
