The Bengals have made a late addition to their roster, signing G Dalton Risner to a 1 year deal.
Risner was originally a 2nd round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2019, and was able to lock down a starting job at LG that season. In 2023, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings, with whom he would spend 2 seasons.
He did not sign right away during the free agency period, and then the time began to drag on, as he waited for the right opportunity. Risner was high on the list of potential signings right from the beginning, from many who follow the team. However, the Bengals chose to sign Lucas Patrick.
Patrick struggled in camp, and the struggles leaked into the preseason. This caused the demands for a Risner signing to increase. The Bengals finally did bring him in for a workout, but he left without a deal, and was also looking into other options.
Despite leaving without a deal the first time, the two sides remained in contact, and circled back after the cutdown period. They were able to finally come to an agreement.
Risner is a big addition for the Bengals. He isn’t particularly known for his run blocking, but his ability as a pass protector is just what the Bengals needed. They had a big hole at RG, and a star QB that needs to be protected.
It is expected that Risner will slide right into the starting spot at RG, with Lucas Patrick shifting into a depth role.
The Bengals also announced their initial practice squad on Wednesday. The following players have been added:
QB, Brett Rypien
RB, Gary Brightwell
RB, Kendall Milton
WR, Isaiah Williams
WR, Jordan Moore
OT, Devin Cochran
OT, Andrew Coker
G, Jaxson Kirkland
C, Seth McLaughlin
DE, Isaiah Thomas
LB, Maema Njongmeta
LB, Joe Giles-Harris
CB, Bralyn Lux
CB, Jalen Davis
S, Russ Yeast
As it stands, the Bengals have filled 15 out of the 16 spots, so we can expect to see one more addition to the practice squad.
All of the signings were with the Bengals during the offseason, except for Brett Rypien and Russ Yeast.
Rypien was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Broncos in 2019 and spent a few years with the team. He also spent time with the Rams, Seahawks, and Jets. Rypien has been a backup at some points in his career, and has a 2-2 career record as a starter. The Bengals had Desmond Ridder as the 3rd string QB in the offseason, but seemingly preferred Rypien once he became available.
Yeast, meanwhile, was originally a 7th round pick of the Los Angeles Rams. He made the team as a rookie, playing mainly on special teams, but did see a bit more defensive action later in the season. In 2023, he earned a starting spot, but ended up losing that job part way through the season. He now joins the Bengals practice squad at a position that does not have a lot of depth.
The Bengals did not make any waiver claims following cutdown day, but a few of their own players did make it through, which allowed them to be placed on IR.
G Cordell Volson, TE Tanner McLachlan, and OT Caleb Etienne have been placed on IR. They were not included on the initial 53 man roster, which means they are not able to be activated. Their only chance at playing in 2025, if they are able to get healthy, would be if they can reach an injury settlement with the Bengals and secure their release.
Thumbnail Image Via: Jeffrey Beall (CC)