Bengals Rookie Watch: Where the class of 2023 stands before Week 1

All eight of the Cincinnati Bengals' 2023 draft picks has made the Week 1 roster, and it looks like all eight are here to stay over the course of the season. Making the initial roster is one thing, and asserting yourself into a substantial role on a championship-caliber team is something else entirely. Roles for […]

John Sheeran — Cincinnati Bengals News Writer

Sep 6, 2023 12:40 PM EDT

All eight of the Cincinnati Bengals' 2023 draft picks has made the Week 1 roster, and it looks like all eight are here to stay over the course of the season.

Making the initial roster is one thing, and asserting yourself into a substantial role on a championship-caliber team is something else entirely. Roles for most of these rookie will be minor to start the season out, with only a couple being the exception.

Here is where the Bengals' 2023 rookie class stands as the season begins.

Myles Murphy, first round pick

Current role: Reserve edge defender
Like almost every one of his rookie teammates, Murphy's most likely path to increased playing time will be injuries. That just so happens to be the case at his position with Joseph Ossai recovering from an ankle sprain. If Ossai was healthy entering this week, Murphy probably wouldn't be playing due to how many players are allowed to dress.

Expect Murphy to play about 10-15 snaps a game while he's active during Ossai's recovery, which may only last another week.

DJ Turner II, second round pick

Current role: Reserve cornerback
Turner will be active on game days as the first cornerback off the bench should something happen to either Chidobe Awuzie or Cam Taylor-Britt. He proved worthy after a terrific training camp to be active on game days, though playing time is hard to come by at the position outside of the starting trio.

Turner will be on call and busy with special teams.

Jordan Battle, third round pick

Current role: Reserve safety
How much three-safety looks will defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo unveil to start the season? That will ultimately determine how much action Battle gets assuming Nick Scott looks the part next to Dax Hill. We saw plenty of it during camp, indicating it will be a part of the defense at least to start the season. His preseason was more of a mixed bag.

Special teams will be the bulk of Battle's snaps while he gets his feet wet. The three-safety personnel groupings might be a 5-10 snaps per game package.

Charlie Jones, fourth round pick

Current role: Reserve slot receiver, punt returner
Jones won the punt returner job really when he was drafted; a fourth-round pick is almost a guarantee to make the initial roster. Trent Taylor's chances of sticking around where slim-to-none once that happened. Jones has essentially replaced Taylor's exact role on the team, meaning that multiple injuries would have to occur for him to see the field on offense.

Returning punts is where you'll see Jones take the field for now. He'll only be needed in the slot if Tyler Boyd and Trenton Irwin are unavailable.

Chase Brown, fifth round pick

Current role: Reserve running back
Depending on how many players they need active at other spots, Brown may not even dress until needed. The Bengals have three running backs with experience, and two of them are further along than Brown in terms of pass protection. Do the Bengals want to have a true backup for Joe Mixon ready and available? That's the question for Brown's involvement to start his career.

Until the team activates Brown for game days, there's no telling what his expectations should be.

Andrei Iosivas, sixth round pick

Current role: Reserve wide receiver
Six receivers on the roster likely means Iosivas is suiting up for game days. But like Jones, he's two injuries from taking snaps in the offense. No other receiver played more special teams than Iosivas did in the preseason, and that's where he'll be to start his career.

It'll be exciting to see Iosivas the receiver when that time comes, but it's not coming any time soon.

Brad Robbins, sixth round pick

Current role: Punter, holder
Technically, he's the only rookie starter on the team. Robbins will begin his career as Cincinnati's punter and holder for placekicker Evan McPherson. And with Drue Chrisman not even back on the practice squad, the team has ample confidence in Robbins succeeding right away.

DJ Ivey, seventh round pick

Current role: Reserve cornerback
Behind Turner on the boundary is Ivey, who asserted himself as the sixth cornerback throughout the course of the offseason. He's buried on the depth chart and may not even be dressed for game days with Turner and Jalen Davis both healthy.