The Cincinnati Bengals play football on Thursday! It’s only preseason football, but it’s better than no football! Zac Taylor says Joe Burrow and the rest of the starters will play, but it’s unclear as to how much. Hopefully, we see a well-oiled machine on the field in Philadelphia Thursday night, but at worst, we’ll see some new faces get some game action.
As we head into the team’s first of three preseason games, here’s my second go at predicting the Bengals’ 53-man roster.
Quarterback (2)
Notes: No changes here. Browning has done it when it matters, and as much as it would be awesome to see a local UC kid get the backup spot, the team has to do what’s best. Right now, Browning is best.
Running Back (3)
Chase Brown
Samaje Perine
Tahj Brooks
Notes: I’m keeping an extra offensive player, which means I have to sacrifice someone somewhere. As much as I like Chase Brown and the other running backs, it’s easily among the least important positions on the Bengals’ roster. This offense flows through the quarterback and the passing game. Having a running game is just gravy.
So three running backs it is.
Wide Receiver (6)
Ja’Marr Chase
Tee Higgins
Andrei Iosivas
Charlie Jones
Jermaine Burton
Isaiah Williams
Notes: There’s not much difference here. Those top five spots are locks, barring injury, but Isaiah Williams appears on the team’s first official depth chart behind Tee Higgins, so, at least for now, he’s WR6.
Tight End (4)
Mike Gesicki
Noah Fant
Drew Sample
Tanner Hudson
Notes: The Bengals added Fant as a free agent last week on a one-year deal. The former first-round pick will provide Burrow with another downfield threat from the tight end position to pair with Gesicki. This does mean Tanner McLachlan is out.
Offensive Line (10)
Orlando Brown Jr.
Dylan Fairchild
Ted Karras
Lucas Patrick
Amarius Mims
Cody Ford
Cordell Volson
Matt Lee
Devin Cochran
Jalen Rivers
Notes: I had the Bengals keeping nine linemen in my first go, but that’s changing to 10 in version 2.0. For the Bengals, the name of the game on offense is going to be keeping Burrow upright so he can do what he does best. Despite the fireworks on offense throughout the 2024 season, Burrow was hit way too much. There is a good offensive line in this group of 10 guys. The coaches just need to find it.
Defensive Line (10)
Trey Hendrickson
BJ Hill
T.J. Slaton Jr.
Joseph Ossai
Shemar Stewart
Myles Murphy
McKinnley Jackson
Kris Jenkins Jr.
Cam Sample
Cedric Johnson
Notes: Stewart is under contract, and Hendrickson is back in Cincinnati “holding in.” It’s better than holding out in Jacksonville, and since there’s positive movement, I’m still assuming Hendrickson is going to be starting for the Bengals in 2025. No other changes.
Linebackers (5)
Logan Wilson
Demetrius Knight Jr.
Oren Burks
Barrett Carter
Maema Njongmeta
Notes: I thought about losing Njongmeta for that extra offensive lineman, but decided against it. The defense was the cause of most of the team’s woes in 2024, and I’d feel more comfortable losing a running back than a fifth linebacker.
Cornerback (6)
Cam Taylor-Britt
DJ Turner
Dax Hill
Josh Newton
DJ Ivey
Marco Wilson
Notes: There’s a minor change here. On the Bengals’ first depth chart, they have Hill as the team’s starting nickel corner, and instead of Jalen Davis, Mike Hilton’s long-time backup, behind him, Josh Newton is. So Davis is out and Wilson is in as CB6.
Safety (4)
Geno Stone
Jordan Battle
Tycen Anderson
Daijahn Anthony
Notes: No change here.
Special Teams (3)
Evan McPherson (K)
Ryan Rehkow (P)
Cal Adomitis (LS)
Notes: No change here.
What are your thoughts?
Sound off!
Who Dey!