The Bengals have officially wrapped up their training camp and preseason. The team will now move forward to their final roster cuts and forming the 53 man roster and practice squad.
– QB (2):
9. Joe Burrow
8. Brandon Allen
No surprises here. Needless to say, Joe Burrow is the clear starter, while Brandon Allen will operate as the backup.
I kept Shurmur on the practice squad. He did play well in the preseason finale, but he didn’t look great in the other two games. If it’s me, I’m looking for a potential upgrade on the waiver wire, putting an emphasis on guys with upside.
– RB (3):
28. Joe Mixon
34. Samaje Perine
25. Chris Evans
Joe Mixon is locked into his roster spot. Perine is not necessarily a lock, but the Bengals have been high on him for a few years now. Further, he worked as the second RB behind Mixon, and was rested later in games. Evans is also very likely to make it. He provides the Bengals with their Giovani Bernard replacement as someone who can catch passes and help in pass protection.
I decided to only go with three RB’s on the 53 man roster, with Patrick, Pooka Williams, and Trayveon Williams on the practice squad. It was very tough to leave Jacques Patrick off, but including him didn’t make a lot of sense from a numbers aspect. It was between him and Markus Bailey for the 53rd roster spot, and it was ultimately special teams that gave Bailey the edge. Looking at them purely as runners, an argument could also be made for Patrick over Perine. I wouldn’t mind it. However, it is not something I see the Bengals doing, as Perine also has extensive experience on special teams, something Patrick does not.
– WR (7):
85. Tee Higgins
1. Ja’Marr Chase
83. Tyler Boyd
19. Auden Tate
80. Mike Thomas
16. Trent Irwin
17. Stanley Morgan
The top three in this unit, Higgins, Chase, and Boyd are all locks. Auden Tate is also about as close to a lock as you can get. The Bengals are very likely to keep at least six WR’s on the 53 man roster, and seven is also a big possibility. In my prediction, I went with seven. Mike Thomas has had a quiet, but solid preseason. His ability on special teams gave him a spot. Trent Irwin, meanwhile, earned his spot based on his impressive camp and preseason. I couldn’t leave him off, and it will be very hard for the Bengals to do so. Morgan hasn’t shown much as a receiver thus far. He makes the team based on his outstanding special teams ability.
Trent Irwin making the team, and Darius Phillips seemingly winning the PR battle, pushed Trent Taylor off the 53 man roster. He started strong in camp, but was unable to keep it going. I did give him a spot on the practice squad, though. Scotty Washington was cut outright.
– TE (3):
87. CJ Uzomah
89. Drew Sample
81. Thaddeus Moss
Uzomah and Sample are locked into the top two places on the depth chart. There has been an open competition for the third spot. None of the back-end TE’s had stood out that much prior to the preseason finale, but Moss did make a few catches in camp and the first two preseason games. Moss and Wilcox both made a nice catch up the seam in the preseason finale. But it was Moss who made a few more catches throughout the game. He gets the third spot based on the in-house competition, but I would not be surprised if the Bengals add a TE off of waivers after final cuts.
Mitchell Wilcox landed a spot on the practice squad, while Mason Schreck was cut.
– OT (4):
73. Jonah Williams
71. Riley Reiff
74. Fred Johnson
70. D’Ante Smith
OT was an easy one with no tough decisions to make. Williams and Reiff are obviously locks, while Fred Johnson should enter the year as the top backup. D’Ante Smith, meanwhile, has been quite impressive. Whether you list him as a G or OT, he will make the team.
Isaiah Prince has been solid in the preseason, and has shown some nice developmental traits. In my opinion, he at least deserves a spot on the practice squad. Gunnar Vogel has had some poor moments and is cut as a result.
Hakeem Adeniji would have made the roster, but his injury will land him a spot in IR instead.
– G (4):
67. Quinton Spain
72. Xavier Su’a-Filo
60. Michael Jordan
79. Jackson Carman
Quinton Spain has gotten most of the work at LG with the first team, while Su’a-Filo is expected to start at RG. The team has stuck by the side of Michael Jordan, and it seems like his battle with Su’a-Filo was close. It would be a surprise to see him cut. Jackson Carman has flashed his upside, but just is not ready yet. Nevertheless, they won’t cut their rookie 2nd rounder.
Keaton Sutherland has gotten work at both C and G. While the Bengals do like his versatility, I don’t believe that his play has justified a spot on the practice squad.
– C (2):
66. Trey Hopkins
53. Billy Price
Nothing much to go over at C. Hopkins will start and Price will backup. It is possible that Trey Hill is kept on the 53 man roster. He has shown some flashes, but ultimately, I decided to stash him on the practice squad. He needs some time to develop.
– DE (5):
91. Trey Hendrickson
94. Sam Hubbard
96. Cam Sample
44. Darius Hodge
90. Khalid Kareem
DE was an interesting one with a few different ways I could have gone. Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard clearly sit atop the depth chart. However, Joseph Ossai’s injury opens things up a little. In the preseason, Darius Hodge has really stood out, while Cam Sample has also been solid. Sample, the draft pick, would have a spot, you figure. Hodge, in my opinion, has played his way onto the roster. Decided to include Khalid Kareem as well. He had his moments in the backfield during the preseason finale, and has been solid against the run, even going back to last year. I could have included Bledsoe instead, but I felt that Kareem has more upside of the two. Bledsoe still lands a spot on the practice squad. I also kept Noah Spence on the practice squad. I think it might be too late for him to make a roster push, but the injuries at DE allow them to keep him on the practice squad.
Wyatt Hubert and Joseph Ossai should both end up on IR.
– DT (5):
98. DJ Reader
65. Larry Ogunjobi
76. Mike Daniels
68. Josh Tuopu
99. Tyler Shelvin
The Bengals will head into the season with Reader and Ogunjobi as the starters. Mike Daniels is a leader in the locker room and a key rotational piece, so he should make it as well. Josh Tupou was somewhat of an unknown after opting out of last year. He has been solid in camp and he seems to still be in the Bengals plans. Tyler Shelvin didn’t have the best preseason, but he has upside as a run defender, and was a relatively high pick. I don’t think the Bengals risk losing him on waivers.
That leaves Renell Wren and Kahlil McKenzie on the outside. Wren still has upside, but I don’t see room for him. I put him on the practice squad. McKenzie was cut.
– LB (5):
57. Germaine Pratt
55. Logan Wilson
59. Akeem Davis-Gaither
50. Jordan Evans
51. Markus Bailey
Pratt and Logan Wilson earn their places as the starters at LB. Davis-Gaither should be the top backup. None of the backend guys are locks to make the roster, but I do see Evans making it. He is the “veteran” of the group and is a useful blitzer and a contributor on special teams. As mentioned earlier, the final roster spot came down to LB Markus Bailey and RB Jacques Patrick. It is Bailey getting the final spot for his special teams ability.
Joe Bachie and Keandre Jones are left at the bottom of the depth chart. I don’t see the Bengals keeping more than five LB’s on the roster. Four also would not surprise me. Based on that, you figure that Bachie and Jones were battling it out for a practice squad spot. Of the two, I thought Bachie has been more impressive. He has shown some ability in shallow coverage and is a solid tackler. Bachie gets the spot on the practice squad, while Jones is cut.
– CB (6):
22. Chidobe Awuzie
26. Trae Waynes
21. Mike Hilton
23. Darius Phillips
20. Eli Apple
35. Jalen Davis
The top four spots are pretty much set in stone, with Awuzie, Waynes, Hilton, and Phillips. It also seems likely that Eli Apple makes it as the 5th guy, which leaves one final spot up for grabs. Tony Brown was the final guy last season, but I haven’t been impressed with his on field play. I think he is cut. In the end, I think the final spot comes down to Jalen Davis and Winston Rose. I feel like Davis has been a bit better, thus earning him the final spot. Rose is kept on the practice squad.
Along with Tony Brown, Antonio Phillips is cut. Donnie Lewis, meanwhile, is on IR.
– S (4):
30. Jessie Bates
24. Vonn Bell
40. Brandon Wilson
37. Ricardo Allen
There doesn’t seem to be a lot going on at the safety position. Bates and Bell are clear locks, as is Wilson, since he is the top kick returner. Haven’t heard much of Ricardo Allen this offseason, but I think they will keep him on.
I have always been a fan of Trayvon Henderson, and I think he has had another good preseason. However, the numbers just don’t work in his favour. He gets a spot on the practice squad.
– Special Teams (3):
2. Evan McPherson (K)
10. Kevin Huber (P)
46. Clark Harris (LS)
There has been a kicking “battle” throughout the summer. While Seibert has been fine, McPherson has clearly run away with it. I included Seibert on the practice squad, but I could see the team trading him for a late round pick.
Kevin Huber’s job is secure. The Bengals do also have Drue Chrisman at punter. It is possible they try to groom him as Huber’s eventual replacement. I could see him being stashed on the practice squad.
Like Huber, Clark Harris’ job is also secure. They did have Dan Godsil for a couple of stints over the past few years, but he retired earlier in the offseason, leaving Harris as the only one left.
– Practice Squad (16)
6. Kyle Shurmur (QB)
31. Jacques Patrick (RB)
36. Pooka Williams (RB)
32. Trayveon Williams (RB)
11. Trent Taylor (WR)
84. Mitchell Wilcox (TE)
75. Isaiah Prince (OT)
63. Trey Hill (C)
93. Amani Bledsoe (DE)
52. Noah Spence (DE)
95. Renell Wren (DT)
49. Joe Bachie (LB)
39. Winston Rose (CB)
41. Trayvon Henderson (S)
4. Drue Chrisman (P)
3. Austin Seibert (K)
– Injured Reserve (4):
77. Hakeem Adeniji (OT)
58. Joseph Ossai (DE)
56. Wyatt Hubert (DE)
33. Donnie Lewis (CB)
– Cuts (8):
14. Scotty Washington (WR)
86. Mason Schreck (TE)
62. Gunnar Vogel (OT)
64. Keaton Sutherland (G)
69. Kahlil McKenzie (DT)
47. Keandre Jones (LB)
27. Tony Brown (CB)
29. Antonio Phillips (CB)