April 1, 2026, 4:25 p.m. ET

The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t been shy about still wanting to make additions to the defensive end spot while also grabbing another veteran leader or two for the overarching defense. 

If nothing else, the pool of talent available to the Bengals just got a little bigger. 

Thanks to the Cleveland Browns, of course. 

According to ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi, the Browns have backed out of a deal with free agent AJ Epenesa after concerns popped up during his physical. 

No word on what those concerns are at this moment, but Epenesa was expected to get a one-year deal worth up to $5 million in Cleveland. 

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In other words, the former second-round pick and longtime member of the Buffalo Bills who is still just 27 years old fits the cheaper mold of what the Bengals might still end up doing at a later date. 

Epenesa and other possible targets, though, might need to wait until the NFL draft on the Bengals, though.