Bengals confirm the worst for two roster hopefuls and make progress towards the 53-man roster
Two members of the Cincinnati Bengals' 2021 NFL Draft class will not suit up for the 2024 regular season.Cincinnati made it official Monday afternoon that running back Chris Evans and offensive tackle D'Ante Smith will miss the season, placing both on the Reserve/Injured list prior to next week's roster cutdown deadline. Evans and Smith both […]
Two members of the Cincinnati Bengals' 2021 NFL Draft class will not suit up for the 2024 regular season.
Cincinnati made it official Monday afternoon that running back Chris Evans and offensive tackle D'Ante Smith will miss the season, placing both on the Reserve/Injured list prior to next week's roster cutdown deadline.
Evans and Smith both suffered torn patellar tendons during last Thursday's joint practice session against the Chicago Bears. They were carted off the field consecutively within a very short period of time.
Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that both players will indeed not return for the rest of the year.
"That was tough," Taylor said. "Two guys that have been a big part of what we've done the last couple years, and really tough to watch it happen and watch them go through that. So that's unfortunate for those guys."
A new rule allows NFL teams to designate up to two players to return off I.R. if they were placed on the list during next Tuesday's cutdown deadline. Since Evans and Smith were placed on the list now, they will be ineligible to return for the season. the rules.
Evans and Smith were each Day 3 picks from Cincinnati's 2021 draft class. Despite sticking with the team for the past three years, neither player should've been considered a lock to make this year's initial 53-man roster.
Instead of being cut, they will stay in the building and receive their base salaries for the upcoming season while they recover for next year.
On top of placing both Evans and Smith on I.R., the Bengals also waived defensive tackle Devonnsha Maxwell. Maxwell had been on the Physically Unable to Perform list since the start of training camp.
All three moves put the Bengals at 86 players on the active roster as cutdown day is just over a week away.
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