Teams can also keep 16 players on their practice squad, but there’s always some uncertainty over who will clear waivers and who might be available elsewhere once those final cuts are made so some decisions that are made Tuesday could be temporary.
Here’s our analysis at how the Bengals’ 53-man roster will shake out:
QUARTERBACKS (2)
In: Joe Burrow, Jake Browning
Out: Trevor Siemian, Reid Sinnett
Siemian’s experience seemed to make the backup job his to lose, and that’s exactly what happened, at least to those watching on the outside. Browning didn’t exactly run away with it but was more consistent overall and his strong showing in the finale built more confidence while Siemian still left a lot of doubt with his overall performance this preseason.
RUNNING BACK (4)
In: Chase Brown, Chris Evans, Joe Mixon, Trayveon Williams
Out: Jacob Saylors, Calvin Tyler Jr.
Evans went from being on the bubble to earning a roster spot with a solid camp. The question here is whether the Bengals keep four running backs on the roster. Trayveon Williams was injured most of camp, so they could take a chance on him clearing waivers and sign him to the practice squad, but prior to his injury he appeared the best option to back up Mixon.
WIDE RECEIVERS (7)
In: Tyler Boyd, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin, Charlie Jones, Stanley Morgan
On the bubble: Kwamie Lassiter, Trent Taylor
Out: Malachi Carter, Mac Hippenhammer, Shedrick Jackson
Iosivas was one of the highlights of a shaky offense this training camp, and he solidified a spot after uncertainty what the Princeton product would bring against NFL competition. Taylor is on the outside looking in with Jones likely taking over on punt returns, despite playing through a shoulder injury. Morgan’s role on special teams likely enables him to keep a spot but he’s no lock.
"I took every rep here very seriously and I thought you know I showed out and made some plays and also learned a lot from the bad ones." - @AndreiIosivas
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 27, 2023
Bengals Locker Room | GEICO pic.twitter.com/UNrevDFafu
TIGHT END (3)
In: Tanner Hudson, Drew Sample, Irv Smith Jr.
On the bubble: Mitchell Wilcox
Out: Devin Asiasi, Nick Bowers, Christian Trahan
Hudson was a winner in camp and appears the best receiving tight end option behind Smith, but the Bengals also invested a lot of time and energy into Wilcox the last three years so, perhaps he stays as a fourth tight end if they keep just three running backs. Wilcox was cleared last week from offseason surgery for a knee injury he unknowingly sustained in 2022, and he played 17 snaps Saturday in the preseason finale.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
In: Orlando Brown Jr., Alex Cappa, Jackson Carman, Cody Ford, Ted Karras, Max Scharping, D’Ante Smith, Cordell Volson, Jonah Williams
PUP: La’el Collins
On the bubble: Hakeem Adeniji, Trey Hill
Out: Ben Brown, Nate Gilliam, Jaxson Kirkland
Injured reserve: Devin Cochran
Scharping seems to have earned the backup center job with his proven versatility, which likely pushes Hill out of the mix after a rough camp and preseason. Carman and Smith were getting most of the second-string tackle reps over Adeniji, so it seems they stay, although Smith did leave Saturday’s game with a shoulder injury and that could change things. Carman has struggled to solidify a spot with this team the past two years and this could be his last chance to show he can be a more consistent player. Collins has yet to be cleared for practice, so he’ll need more time to work back from his 2022 ACL tear.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10)
In: Zach Carter, Trey Hendrickson, B.J. Hill, Sam Hubbard, Myles Murphy, Joseph Ossai, D.J. Reader, Cam Sample, Jay Tufele, Josh Tupou
On the bubble: Jeff Gunter, Raymond Johnson
Out: Owen Carney, Domenique Davis, Tautala Pesefea Jr.
Injured reserve: Devonnsha Maxwell
Johnson shined this preseason but there just doesn’t seem to be room for him to break through with such strong depth on this defensive line. It’s possible the Bengals decide to keep one backup for Reader, deciding between Tufele and Tupou, and that would open a spot. Ossai’s ankle injury in the preseason finale also could throw a wrinkle in the plans.
LINEBACKER (5)
In: Joe Bachie, Markus Bailey, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Germaine Pratt, Logan Wilson
Out: Shaka Heyward, Keandre Jones, Jaylen Moody, Tyler Murray
Taylor called the linebacker group the most consistent through camp, and it’s the only one where the five guys have seemed locked in since last year.
DEFENSIVE BACKS (10)
In: Tycen Anderson, Chidobe Awuzie, Jordan Battle, Jalen Davis, Dax Hill, Mike Hilton, Nick Scott, Cam Taylor-Britt, DJ Turner, DJ Ivey
On the bubble: Allan George, Sidney Jones, Michael Thomas
Out: Marvell Tell III, Larry Brooks, Yusuf Corker
Ivey was an unknown coming in as a seventh-round draft pick, but he had several splash plays in camp and earned a spot by outplaying Jones even before the veteran suffered a hamstring injury two weeks ago. The other cornerback spots are pretty cut and dry. At safety, Anderson, who missed his rookie season due to injury, stepped up in his first full preseason, and apparently Thomas gave him his jersey after Saturday night’s game. Thomas has been a mentor and leader on special teams but might have a decision to make between staying on board as a practice squad player or calling it a career.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
In: Cal Adomitis (long-snapper), Evan McPherson (kicker), Brad Robbins (punter)
Out: Drue Chrisman (punter)
Robbins wins the punter job, as anticipated when the Bengals used a sixth-round pick on him to give Chrisman competition. Chrisman likely still hangs around on the practice squad in case things go south for Robbins as a rookie.
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