Bengals 53-man Roster Projection: Ongoing changes create shakeups in the trenches with uneasiness in the secondary
Where the Bengals’ roster stands after one week of preseason action.
Three weeks of training camp and one preseason loss against the Philadelphia Eagles are in the books for the Cincinnati Bengals. If there’s such a thing as the midway point to the initial 53-man roster, we’ve reached it.
Plenty of roster battles need to be sorted, which is why we’re starting to see lineup and position changes this week as the team prepares for preseason game No. 2 against the Washington Commanders. Here’s our updated roster projection reflecting the alterations already made and where players likely stand. Check out the differences from our pre-training camp kickoff projection.
Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2025 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2025 undrafted free agents.
Quarterback (2)
IN: Joe Burrow, Jake Browning
OUT: Desmond Ridder, Payton Thorne**
The skinny: Browning simply wasn’t good last Thursday night and while Ridder wasn’t significantly better, the Bengals should be open to seeing Ridder get some runtime with the second-string these next two weeks just to be certain which QB is best suited to be Burrow’s backup.
Running back (3)
IN: Chase Brown, Samaje Perine, Tahj Brooks*
OUT: Gary Brightwell, Kendall Milton, Quali Conley**
The skinny: Zack Moss’ release opens the door for Brightwell to take a fourth spot or to just roll with three. Brooks continuing to improve could be enough to go light here and take on an extra player at another spot where depth is more important.
Wide receiver (5)
IN: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones, Jermaine Burton
OUT: Isaiah Williams, Cole Burgess, Kendric Pryor, Mitchell Tinsley, Jordan Moore**, Jamoi Mayes**, Rashod Owens**
The skinny: Williams still has the inside track to be WR6 but dropping his one target from last week’s game doesn’t look good on the current resume. Burton has an undisclosed injury but shouldn’t be out for long. Jones has been a big winner lately from camp.
Tight end (5)
IN: Drew Sample, Mike Gesicki, Noah Fant, Tanner Hudson, Cam Grandy
OUT: Tanner McLachlan
INJURY LIST: Erick All Jr. (PUP)
The skinny: Going light at wideout would leave room to keep this group stacked with five, and with the arrival of Fant and Hudson continuing to make plays no matter who’s throwing him the ball, how can you not keep him as of now? Grandy is still relied on for blocking so he stays.
Offensive line (10)
IN: Orlando Brown Jr. (LT), Dylan Fairchild* (LG), Ted Karras (C), Lucas Patrick (RG), Amarius Mims (RT), Cody Ford, Jalen Rivers*, Matt Lee, Cordell Volson, Devin Cochran
OUT: Jaxson Kirkland, Andrew Coker, Andrew Stueber, Andrew Ryam, Seth McLaughlin** (NFI), Caleb Etienne**
The skinny: Right guard has been, predictably, messy. Patrick got the nod to start but was so-so at best. Ford and Rivers now may be in the process of flip-flopping with the former back outside to tackle and the latter repping at RG. This uncertainty also makes keeping Cochran a bit more necessary. Ryam has been the backup C for two weeks but only because Lee and McLaughlin have been injured and I expect one of the two to bump him down. Volson has looked better than Kirkland.
Defensive line (10)
IN: Trey Hendrickson (DE), B.J. Hill (DT), T.J. Slaton (NT), Joseph Ossai (DE), Myles Murphy, Shemar Stewart*, Kris Jenkins Jr., Cam Sample, McKinnley Jackson, Taven Bryan
OUT: Cedric Johnson, McTelvin Agim, Isaiah Thomas, Raymond Johnson III, Howard Cross III**, Eric Gregory**
The skinny: You have to respect Stewart seizing opportunities. He’s still a bull in a china shop right now, but that’s enticing enough to give him first-team reps. Johnson has been out for a minute with injuries and Bryan has been a second-team staple at DT. I think Stewart impressing makes a fifth DT more needed than a sixth DE.
Linebacker (5)
IN: Logan Wilson, Demetrius Knight Jr.*, Oren Burks, Barrett Carter*, Joe Giles-Harris
OUT: Maema Njongmeta, Shaka Heyward, Craig Young
The skinny: Giles-Harris gets a stock boost after his interception and putting in quality reps on special teams. The top four are solidified even if both Knight and Carter experience more rookie woes.
Cornerback (6)
IN: Dax Hill, Cam Taylor-Britt, Josh Newton, DJ Turner II, DJ Ivey, Marco Wilson
OUT: Jalen Davis, Micah Abrahan, Nate Brooks, Lance Robinson, Bralyn Lux**
The skinny: Hill and Taylor-Britt truly need to play for this group to look competent. Newton and Turner didn’t exactly set high bars as staters, and pretty much everyone below them were considerably worse. Wilson is now back from injury so perhaps he can inject some life in the next game.
Safety (4)
IN: Geno Stone, Jordan Battle, Tycen Anderson, Daijahn Anthony
OUT: PJ Jules, Jaylen Key, Shaquan Loyal**
The skinny: The new injury to watch is whatever’s wrong with Stone, who exited Thursday night early and is now week-to-week. It’s unclear if a free agent is needed now, but Anthony and Anderson will each get chances to play in his place.
Specialists (3)
IN: Evan McPherson (K), Ryan Rehkow (P), Cal Adomitis (LS)
OUT: William Wagner**
The skinny: Adomitis snapped for both field goals Thursday and three of the five punts. Wagner will get some chances Monday night.
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