CINCINNATI — If a player spent Thursday night on the field in a Cincinnati Bengals jersey, that wasn’t a great sign for his place in the team’s plans this season. All of the projected starters on offense and defense watched from the sideline as the backups and third-stringers the Bengals need to make decisions about were given a shot at one final impression. Advertisement The impression wasn’t great in the 27-14 loss to the Colts that saw the Cincinnati offense being shut out by Indianapolis, which played its starters for about one quarter.
Still, more than a few impactful moments from the game will help shape decisions for Tuesday’s cutdown day and open up the concept of looking outside the building to fill multiple spots. Quarterbacks (2) • Starter: Joe Burrow • Backup: Jake Browning • Cut: Logan Woodside , Rocky Lombardi Thursday night impact: Nothing good. Woodside couldn’t muster any offense and turned the ball over with a fumble in the fourth quarter.
The offense was largely ineffective, and Woodside finished 16-of-21 for just 98 yards in the air. It might be time to call AJ McCarron again. Analysis: Despite a rib injury that took Browning out of the second half of camp, his spot never wavered.
Woodside never did enough to open a conversation about Browning’s position. GO DEEPER Bengals, Joe Burrow look ready for season in joint practice against Colts Running backs (3) • Starter: Chase Brown • Rotational: Zack Moss • Backup: Trayveon Williams • IR: Chris Evans • Cut: Noah Cain , Elijah Collins Thursday night impact: Williams surprisingly played the entire game Thursday. He hit the hole quickly to bust multiple explosive runs and finished with 35 yards on seven carries, but it’s fair to wonder why he was playing so much.
Coach Zac Taylor said the sixth-year pro “deserved the opportunity.” Analysis: This would be the spot most likely to receive an addition from the outside. His name is Samaje Perine .
He could be on the outs among a crowded running backs group in Denver, and the Bengals could use his depth and instant trust with Burrow. I could see the Bengals waiting for the Denver Broncos to release Perine (due to count $4.5 million against the Broncos’ cap), but there’s potential for a trade if the Bengals are willing to take on part of his contract.
Don’t rule out dipping into the waiver wire here, either. The group is thin behind the top two. As for the top two, expectations are still for an even split, though we have seen a good amount of Brown’s running with the first team lately in camp.
Wide receivers (6) • Starters: Ja’Marr Chase , Tee Higgins , Andrei Iosivas • Backups: Charlie Jones , Trenton Irwin , Jermaine Burton • Cut: Shedrick Jackson , Kwamie Lassiter II , Kendric Pryor , Cole Burgess , Hakeem Butler Thursday night impact: Jones made his preseason debut with a bang. He ripped a 48-yard return on the opening kickoff, helping solidify his spot there this season. Burton caught another fourth-quarter go ball for a touchdown, just as he did against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .
The problem was, yet again, this came late in the fourth quarter of a preseason game in mop-up reps. Advertisement Analysis: Fairly cut-and-dried here. There’s a clear line drawn between all three levels.
Iosivas will soak up the majority of snaps alongside Chase and Higgins in 11 personnel. Now, expect them to rotate a small supporting cast through that spot among tight end Mike Gesicki , Charlie Jones and even trusted Trenton Irwin at times, but Iosivas earned the WR3 role. As for Burton, don’t expect him to contribute anytime soon.
They have tried him out at returner to see whether he can carve out a role there but gave way to Jones on Thursday. There’s just not enough trust in Burton right now to put him on the field with Burrow. He needs more time to build that in the coming months.
Chuck with some light work for his first game back. pic.twitter.
com/j1mVbezSKG — Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 23, 2024 Tight ends (4) • Starter: Mike Gesicki • Backups: Drew Sample , Tanner Hudson , Erick All • Cut: Tanner McLachlan , Cam Grandy Thursday night impact: The Bengals offered up a full workload for All, the fourth-round pick out of Iowa. He continues to impress, including a big block coming in motion to spring a Williams run. McLachlan didn’t touch the field in the first half, indicating the Bengals won’t be keeping him on the 53 (or limiting tape on him to sneak onto the practice squad), which is the expectation.
Analysis: It’s interesting to see the implementation of a two-TE package lately that includes Sample and All together during the joint practice. The Bengals can use that to lean into a 12-personnel group with the potential to push teams around the ground if they stick in nickel defense. There’s a package being carved out for All, by whom they have been extremely impressed.
McLachlan will be a nice fit on the practice squad, but despite being a sixth-round pick, it’s highly unlikely he will make the team. In fact, there’s plenty of love to go around for Grandy, an undrafted free agent from Illinois State, whom I expect the Bengals to prioritize keeping in the building. Pick up The Athletic 2024 Fantasy Football Guide to read expert evaluations & everything you need to know to win your fantasy football league.
Pick up The Athletic 2024 Fantasy Football Guide to read expert evaluations. Offensive line (10) • Starters: LT Orlando Brown Jr. , LG Cordell Volson , C Ted Karras , RG Alex Cappa , OT Trent Brown • Backups: RT Amarius Mims (strained pectoral), OL Cody Ford , C Matt Lee, OL Jaxson Kirkland , IOL Trey Hill • IR: OT D’Ante Smith • Cut: OT Devin Cochran , OL Jackson Carman , G OL Eric Miller , IOL Nate Gilliam Advertisement Thursday night impact: Lee, Kirkland and Ford played the entire first half with the second team.
Just the latest ringing endorsement of their position on the roster. Analysis: This group came into focus over the last week, and a path that could have landed anywhere looks destined to end with just nine offensive linemen. The seventh-round pick Lee established himself by crushing his opportunity in Chicago and made Hill (who did not crush much of anything) dispensable.
The same for Kirkland, who drew rave reviews from OL coach Frank Pollack for his play style and then showed off his versatility by kicking out from guard to tackle and not allowing a single pressure against the Chicago Bears . Ford and Kirkland can both fill in at guard and tackle. When Mims returns, he will likely take over as the starter at right tackle with Trent Brown the first swing tackle off the bench.
Lee is there in case anything happens to Karras. GO DEEPER How Amarius Mims' injury exposes mass of options for Bengals' offensive line Defensive line (10) • Starters: Edge Sam Hubbard, edge Trey Hendrickson , DT Sheldon Rankins , DT B.J.
Hill • Backups: Edge Myles Murphy, edge Joseph Ossai , DT Kris Jenkins, DT Zach Carter , edge Cedric Johnson , DT Carlos Davis • Cut: DT Jay Tufele , DT Domenique Davis , DT Travis Bell , DT Josh Pryor, edge Andre Carter , edge Justin Blazek • IR/return: DT McKinnley Jackson • IR: Edge Cam Sample • Retired: Edge Jeffrey Gunter Thursday night impact: The Bengals are searching for answers at defensive tackle, and Carlos Davis made a splash in his final opportunity. He beat Colts starting center Ryan Kelly for a 4-yard loss on a running play and overwhelmed backup guard Dalton Tucker later in the first half for a big hit on Sam Ehlinger . Those might end up being what puts him over the top.
Meanwhile, another nice outing for Johnson, who posted his second sack of the preseason and a pressure that helped create a stop on fourth-and-goal. Analysis: This group will be largely decided by injury assessments. How the Bengals treat Jackson and Murphy’s injuries could open two spots.
They could open the year with one or both on injured reserve with designation to return (four weeks minimum) and pick two of the linemen currently on the wrong side of the cut list. Those could also open opportunities to make waiver claims on a defensive tackle or edge rusher once all the rosters are trimmed to 53. Tufele would make sense because of his success in spots with the Bengals the last two years.
If they feel like they need a big body to specifically replace the 326-pound Jackson, Carlos Davis and Travis Bell are nose tackle options. Murphy went down with a knee injury Tuesday against the Colts. He’s expected to miss at least a month, so there’s a chance he opens on IR or the Bengals could keep him with the hope he’s healthy by Sept.
29 at Carolina. Ossai can easily take over the third edge role with the rookie Johnson assuming a role on special teams in any absence while Murphy stays inactive. My projection here is Murphy will stay on and Jackson will hit IR.
Linebackers (5) • Starters: Logan Wilson , Germaine Pratt • Backups: Akeem Davis-Gaither, Joe Bachie , Maema Njongmeta • Cut: Shaka Heyward , Aaron Casey , Devin Harper Advertisement Thursday night impact: Another game, another series of plays made by Njongmeta. He had nine tackles, darting into the backfield more than once, and added a pair of special teams tackles. Analysis: Njongmeta quickly became the underdog story of camp.
The undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin finds the ball, hits hard and makes plays on special teams. All enough of a factor to give him the nod as the fifth linebacker. Heyward enjoyed more than a few moments as well, but it’s easy to see why Njongmeta would be useful on the roster.
Cornerbacks (5) • Starters: Cam Taylor-Britt , Mike Hilton , Dax Hill • Backups: DJ Turner , Josh Newton • Cut: Jalen Davis , Allan George , Lance Robinson , Nate Brooks • Reserve/PUP: DJ Ivey Thursday night impact: Newton played in the slot all game as the Bengals got him work there as a potential backup for Mike Hilton. Hill and Turner didn’t play, with Taylor saying he felt great about where they were. Analysis: What a month for Hill.
He went from the first-round pick enduring yet another role change to potentially finding a long-term home as the starting corner opposite Taylor-Britt. The starting job is his, and he earned it. He’s played extremely well, and though it’s still “a work in progress,” defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said, he’s been impressed by the level of play from the converted safety.
With Newton and Hill capable of kicking inside and Anthony dropping down as a corner in a dime package, that puts Davis, slot backup the last two seasons, squarely on the bubble. Does he make it? Does George, who enjoyed a fantastic camp, carve out a surprise spot? An interesting decision confronts the Bengals here. Ivey lands on PUP where he will be eligible to return after four weeks as he rehabs from last year’s ACL tear.
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setAttribute("style", "pointer-events: none;");}) Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Safeties (5) • Starters: Geno Stone , Vonn Bell • Backups: Jordan Battle , Tycen Anderson , Daijahn Anthony • Cut: Michael Dowell , PJ Jules Thursday night impact: Battle played well Thursday with a pick six of Anthony Richardson . Anderson and Anthony were pulled as the second half unfolded, suggesting their spots are solid.
Advertisement Analysis: Talk about unlikely stories. Anthony, the seventh-round pick out of Ole Miss, stole the show in camp to the point he earned a spot in the team’s starting dime package against Tampa Bay. He made interceptions, plays on the ball and forced his way on this team.
It could only keep five corners because of him. He has the versatility to drop into a corner role but could grow as a tight-end stopper as the year unfolds. Meanwhile, Anderson is unlikely to go anywhere as a favorite of special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons.
. @JordanMBattle with the pick-six 😏 📺: #CINvsIND on Prime Video pic.twitter.
com/ivXKQDFWzp — Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 23, 2024 Specialists (3) • Starters: Evan McPherson , Cal Adomitis , Brad Robbins • Cut: Ryan Rehkow Thursday night impact: Another inconsistent showing by Rehkow. He punted a beautiful 55-yarder but followed that with a 29-yard shank. In short-field opportunities, he hit a nice ball inside the 10 but also busted one into the end zone.
Analysis: A hip flexor injury to Robbins opened the door for Rehkow to seize the punter job, and he just has not done it. He was inconsistent in Chicago, and that continued this week. Robbins doesn’t have the power of Rehkow, but Simmons liked what he saw from him in the offseason, and he punted fairly well before the injury.
How well that hip flexor is healing will play into the decision, but if he’s healthy, it should be Robbins. (Top photo of Charlie Jones: Justin Casterline / Getty Images).
