It’s finally time for the Cincinnati Bengals to begin training camp. All 90 players are back in the building, and nearly all of them will be taking the field starting Wednesday morning to officially end another offseason in the Queen City.

Obviously, all 90 players aren’t going to make the team. The roster has to be cut down to 53 in exactly one month following the conclusion of the preseason.

A lot can happen in a month, but that isn’t stopping me from putting together another 53-man roster projection at the onset of these names returning to the practice field.

Disclaimer: *indicates a 2026 draft pick, **indicates a 2026 college free agent signing

Bengals 53-man roster projection at the start of training camp

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Quarterback (2)

In: Joe Burrow, Joe Flacco
Out: Josh Johnson, Sean Clifford

The main story is how much Johnson has left in the tank to be signed elsewhere after the preseason. He’ll be given plenty of reps, along with Clifford, while Burrow and Flacco play sparingly in August.

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Running back (3)

In: Chase Brown, Samaje Perine, Tahj Brooks
Out: Gary Brightwell, Kendall Milton, Kentrell Bullock**, Jamal Haynes**

It’s not going to be the most important camp for Brooks’ career, but it will be more important than last year. He could set in motion an increase in playing time this season by showing clear signs of progression in Year 2. Doing so would also allow only three to be kept.

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Wide receiver (6)

In: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Mitchell Tinsley, Ke’Shawn Williams, Colbie Young*
Out: Charlie Jones, Kendric Pryor, Jordan Moore, Xavier Johnson, Dohnte Meyers, Noah Thomas**

My eyes are on Jones and Williams splitting reps with the second-string and returning kicks in a true 50-50 battle for the last spot. Jones is the incumbent and former fourth-round pick, but Williams impressed as his injury replacement late last season.

“He’s gotta be able to stay on the field,” special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons said of Jones on Monday. “I think having somebody like Ke’Shawn here pushing him in that regard is a huge factor, and I see it as a good competition, I see it as a competition as we go through training camp.”

Meyers may make some noise as well. He has special teams ability and plenty of CFL production to his name.

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Tight end (4)

In: Drew Sample, Mike Gesicki, Erick All Jr., Jack Endries*
Out: Tanner Hudson, Cam Grandy, Josh Kattus**

Call it manifesting, call it my gut, call it whatever. Endries should be good enough to make the team over Hudson if they go with just four TEs instead of five. Kattus is starting out on the NFI list.

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Offensive line (9)

In: Orlando Brown Jr., Dylan Fairchild, Ted Karras, Dalton Risner, Amarius Mims, Cody Ford, Jalen Rivers, Brian Parker II*, Connor Lew*
Out: Andrew Coker, Javon Foster, Jacob Bayer, Christian Jones**, Corey Robinson II**, Liam Brown**

Can someone, anyone push Ford? That’s likely the only thing to watch for up front barring injuries. Coker and Foster will get opportunities during preseason action, and Jones and Robinson may as well be thrown into the mix.

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Defensive line (11)

In: Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, B.J. Hill, Boye Mafe, Myles Murphy, T.J. Slaton Jr., Shemar Stewart, Cashius Howell*, Kris Jenkins Jr., Cedric Johnson, Landon Robinson*
Out: McKinnley Jackson, Isaiah Foskey, Jordan Jefferson, Howard Cross III, Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr.

This comes down to the interior guys. Six will look like a lot, but if the plan is to keep Hill, who’s starting camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, Allen, and Lawrence fresh throughout the season, wouldn’t having just as many reserves be best for that? Jenkins, Jackson, and Robinson may be entering a brawl for just two spots, potentially even one.

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Linebacker (5)

In: Barrett Carter, Demetrius Knight Jr., Oren Burks, Joe Giles-Harris, Shaka Heyward
Out: Liam Anderson, Swayze Bozeman, Eric Gentry**, Jack Dingle**

Feeling pretty good about this not really changing over the next month. Giles-Harris and Heyward are the guys on special teams barring a newbie or two shaking that up. Is Bobby Wagner walking through that door? I wouldn’t bet on it.

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Cornerback (6)

In: DJ Turner II, Dax Hill, Jalen Davis, Tacario Davis*, DJ Ivey, Ja’Sir Taylor
Out: Bralyn Lux, Josh Newton, Jalen Kimber, Ceyair Wright**

The epicenter of chaos can be found here. What is this group going to look like beneath the starting duo and both and the elder and rookie Davis? Ivey has special teams experience, and Taylor has slot experience. They’re my safe bets for now. Lux and Newton are absolutely in the mix.

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Safety (4)

In: Bryan Cook, Jordan Battle, Kyle Dugger, PJ Jules
Out: Daijahn Anthony, Russ Yeast, Isaiah Nwokobia**

Jules fending off Anthony, Yeast, and even Nwokobia is an unheralded storyline, and one that will be more fleshed out when the preseason arrives.

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Specialist (3)

In: Evan McPherson, Ryan Rehkow, William Wagner

No notes.