Bengals have one roster spot open to fill following Khalil Herbert trade and one position sticks out
Rumors of the Cincinnati Bengals being active at the trade deadline turned out to be true as a seventh-round pick was exchanged for running back Khalil Herbert. But despite adding Herbert to the team, the active roster actually shrunk in Cincinnati this week.Herbert is replacing Zack Moss in the Bengals' backfield as Moss will miss […]
Rumors of the Cincinnati Bengals being active at the trade deadline turned out to be true as a seventh-round pick was exchanged for running back Khalil Herbert. But despite adding Herbert to the team, the active roster actually shrunk in Cincinnati this week.
Herbert is replacing Zack Moss in the Bengals' backfield as Moss will miss the rest of the season on the Reserve/Injured list with a neck injury. Moss was placed on I.R. to make room for Herbert, but tight end Erick All Jr. was also officially moved to I.R. with his season-ending torn ACL.
Two players out and one player in means the Bengals still have a roster spot open. Here's what to expect in terms of filling that spot.
Bengals should be looking at defensive reinforcements soon
The Bengals have 24 offensive players and 25 defensive players on their roster, but the most likely addition will be to the defense.
Following the Herbert trade, The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that the Bengals were searching for a defensive tackle to trade for prior to the deadline expiring.
Five defensive tackles are currently rostered at the moment, and this is after Lawrence Guy Sr. was released a week ago to fit running back Kendall Milton. The numbers are there, but the production is not.
Cincinnati is not getting much pressure from its interior defensive linemen this year. Starters B.J. Hill and Sheldon Rankins have combined for one sack despite both having played at least six games thus far, and Rankins specifically is winning just 5.5% of the time as a pass rusher according to Pro Football Focus. Rookies Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson also haven't added much production against the pass this year.
The pass rush as a whole could use a boost and that appeared to be a goal for the Bengals this week. A deal could not be found, but this is where another player would be expected to fill in.
Other positions that could be addressed
Cornerback is another position to mention here. Depth has been limited since Dax Hill's torn ACL occurred last month. DJ Ivey's return has helped, but he's all they have in terms of a reserve behind Cam Taylor-Britt and DJ Turner. Rookie Josh Newton has gotten some playing time, but he's been developed to be more of a nickelback ala Mike Hilton.
Any corner that would be added now wouldn't start over Taylor-Britt or Turner, but injuries have consistently hit this position for Cincinnati in recent years going all the way back to Trae Waynes in 2021. It's never a bad idea to bring in another capable backup, even if he starts on the practice squad first where the Bengals also have one opening.
If the Bengals were to bolster their offense some more, another wide receiver or tight end would make the most sense to compensate for injuries to Tee Higgins, Charlie Jones, and All.
Whomever becomes player 53, the addition will likely be made soon after the Bengals' Thursday Night Football" matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. There will nine full days before their next game at the Los Angeles Chargers, giving them ample time to integrate him.
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