The Cincinnati Bengals made a roster move that could have some pretty interesting implications on Al Golden’s defense on Sunday when they play the Baltimore Ravens.
Ahead of that matchup, the Bengals announced the activation of linebacker Shaka Heyward from injured reserve.
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Heyward originally went to injured reserve in late October due to a fibula injury. The team designated him to return last Wednesday before officially activating him for Week 15.
And Heyward’s arrival might just mean some changes for the Bengals defense.
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Said defense, after all, went all-in on a youth movement this past offseason when veteran Germaine Pratt got let go. Golden then benched Logan Wilson, who wound up traded to the Dallas Cowboys.
That, in favor of letting rookies Demetrius Knight and Barret Carter run things for defense. It has turned into a disaster: Carter is the 88th-ranked linebacker in the NFL at PFF out of 88. Knight is 87th.
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At this point, Golden might need to see what Heyward can do with an uptick in snaps. The 2023 undrafted free agent is a staple of special teams and has flashed during the preseason.
Given the developmental time invested in Carter and Knight already, there’s no reason to think either player’s job is safe over the course of next offseason. Right now, there’s nothing to say that Golden (or head coach Zac Taylor) even return next year.
Meaning, don’t be surprised if Heyward gets some serious run against the Ravens.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Examining whether new Bengals roster move will change starting lineup