NOTE: This is the seventh of a 10-part series detailing each position group for the Bengals heading into 2025 training camp, which begins on July 23, and culminating with a 53-player roster projection.
CINCINNATI (WKRC) – This part takes a look at the linebackers and who is a lock to make the 53-man roster when it’s finalized on Aug. 26, who is battling to make it and who are longshots to make it:
How many will likely be kept: 5-6
Lock to make it: Logan Wilson, Demetrius Knight (if he signs his contract), Oren Burks, Barrett Carter
Battling to make it: Shaka Heyward, Maema Njongmeta
Longshot to make it: Joe Giles-Harris, Craig Young
The Skinny: The Bengals are hoping some new blood at this position will lead to improved and more impactful play.
Gone are Germaine Pratt, who had started since midway through his rookie season in 2019, Akeem Davis-Gaither, the top backup at this position and also a special teams standout, and key special teams member Joe Bachie.
They have been replaced by the signing of the veteran Burks as a free agent after he won a Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles last season, and the drafting of Knight in the second round and Carter in the fourth round.
Knight has yet to sign his contract, but he practiced in the spring and was running with the first team defense alongside Wilson, who missed the final five games of last season and then had minor surgery on his knee.
Burks and Carter are the top backups heading into camp.
Njongmeta made the team last season as an undrafted free agent and played in all 17 games, primarily on special teams, but he did get 30 snaps on defense.
Heyward spent 11 weeks on the practice squad, but did appear in six games, although he logged only 12 defensive snaps.
BENGALS TRAINING CAMP POSITION PREVIEW SCHEDULE