Cincinnati Bengals make their final roster moves before Week 1 matchup against Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Cincinnati Bengals have elevated two players from their practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. These are the final two before the regular season officially begins.
The Cincinnati Bengals have elevated two players from their practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Linebacker Joe Giles-Harris and tight end Tanner Hudson have officially been elevated to the active roster for Week 1. They are both classified as standard elevations and will revert back to the practice squad on Monday.
Tanner Hudson back to playing after being the last Bengal cut
It was entirely possible for both Giles-Harris and Hudson to be on the initial 53-man roster. Hudson even was a part of the initial 53, but was released after offensive tackle Myles Hinton was claimed off waivers.
Hudson has been a staple on the team since the middle of 2023. He was ultimately cut as the club prioritized stashing rookie seventh-round pick Jack Endries in the tight end room.
Now, it’s more likely Hudson plays against Tampa than Endries. Cincinnati can only have 48 of it’s now 55 players active for the game, and Hudson was not elevated to be inactive.
It’s a sign that the Bengals wants four TEs dressing, but they do not yet want to rely on Endries to fill Hudson’s role. They can only elevate Hudson two more times after this week.
Joe Giles-Harris’ special teams value has not dwindled
As for Giles-Harris, this is much more straightforward. Cincinnati kept only four linebackers on the 53, and if they went with five, Giles-Harris would’ve been the guy to keep.
Giles-Harris is one of the Bengals’ best special teams players. It makes sense for the team to lean on that early often this year. Like Hudson, he can only be elevated twice more for the rest of the year before the franchise will have to sign him back to the active roster.
It’s been a long offseason of roster moves for Cincinnati. These are the final two before the regular season officially begins.
