Cincinnati Bengals 53-man roster projection as training camp starts
The Cincinnati Bengals made a few minor roster moves to reach the 90-man roster limit just as training camp opened.
Even those back-of-roster additions could make pushes during camp and a handful of preseason games though, even if there aren’t a ton of notable position battles on a Super Bowl roster that returned most of its core pieces and upgraded others.
Still, those Bengals have to hope they enjoy the relatively good health from a year ago again and that starts right at camp opens — Joe Burrow, after all, needed to go get surgery on his appendix the day after reporting.
Here’s a look at a 53-man projection as camp begins.
Quarterback
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Starter: Joe Burrow
Backup: Brandon Allen
Burrow will miss a small portion of early camp. But it’s not a major ordeal, especially considering he probably wasn’t going to see many, if any preseason snaps anyway.
Running back
Syndication: The Enquirer
Starter: Joe Mixon
Backups: Chris Evans, Samaje Perine, Trayveon Williams
Look for Evans to bypass Perine as the primary backup after those flashes last year. It probably doesn’t hurt that he’s going to see an increased role on special teams, too.
Wide receiver
Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
WR1: Tee Higgins
Slot: Tyler Boyd
WR2: Ja’Marr Chase
Backup: Stanley Morgan, Trent Taylor, Mike Thomas
The big three and three core special-teamers make the cut here for now. There are some interesting names who don’t make it here, but they face a near-impossible battle to win jobs as returners, shoving one of these guys aside.
Tight end
(AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Starter: Hayden Hurst
Backup: Drew Sample, Mitchell Wilcox
It’s safe to project Hurst somewhere in the same statistical range as C.J. Uzomah from a year ago. Sample isn’t expected to take on much of a bigger role in the passing attack.
Offensive line
Syndication: The Enquirer
LT: Jonah Williams, Isaiah Prince
LG: Jackson Carman, D’Ante Smith
C: Ted Karras, Ben Brown
RG: Alex Cappa, Cordell Volson
RT: La’el Collins
There’s a lot of interesting versatility here. The rookie Volson is directly in the competition for the starting spot at left guard. Smith has experience all over the place that helps him make it. Ben Brown’s versatility as an undrafted guy actually shoves aside someone like Hakeem Adeniji.
Defensive line
Syndication: The Enquirer
LDE: Sam Hubbard, Cam Sample
3T: B.J. Hill, Zach Carter
NT: D.J. Reader, Josh Tupou (5T), Tyler Shelvin
RDE: Trey Hendrickson, Joseph Ossai, Khalid Kareem
The Bengals hope the lack of major moves here is offset by participation and the hinted breakout from Ossai. That would enable even more effective amoeba looks from the unit when it comes to pass-rushing. This is a spot where the team could always upgrade depth late in camp via trade, though.
Linebackers
(AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
LB: Logan Wilson, Akeem Davis-Gaither
LB: Germaine Pratt, Markus Bailey, Joe Bachie
More boring stuff for an elite defense that didn’t get the credit it deserved last year. The coaching staff would love to see the athletic Akeem Davis-Gaither take another step as a breakout.
Cornerback
(AP Photo/AJ Mast)
CB: Eli Apple, Cam Taylor-Britt
CB: Chidobe Awuzie, Tre Flowers
NCB: Mike Hilton, Jalen Davis
Taylor-Britt will push Apple as a starter on the boundary. Keep in mind while he’s not listed here, first-rounder Dax Hill could see plenty of reps at corner, too. Depth here projects to be notably better than it was a year ago.
Safety
Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
S: Vonn Bell, Tycen Anderson
S: Jessie Bates, Dax Hill, Brandon Wilson
Even if this is Bates’ final season with the team, the defense is much, much better with him on the field. He’s yet to report as camp opens, but he doesn’t need to. Wilson and Anderson shove all others aside thanks to special teams work.
Special Teams
Syndication: The Enquirer
K: Evan McPherson
P: Kevin Huber
LS: Clark Harris
KR: Chris Evans
PR: Trent Taylor
It would be easy to see Huber lose out the job to Drue Chrisman. But a steady summer might encourage the Bengals to keep things humming as usual.
Cuts (or practice squad/reserve lists)
Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
QB Jake Browning
RB Elijah Holyfield
RB Shermari Jones
WR Pooka Williams
WR Jaivon Heiligh
WR Trenton Irwin
WR Kendric Pryor
WR Jack Sorenson
WR Kwamie Lassiter
TE Thaddeus Moss
TE Scotty Washington
OL Devin Cochran
OL Hakeem Adeniji
OL Noel Desmond
OL Trey Hill
OL Lamont Gaillard
DL Wyatt Hubert
DL Noah Spence
DL Tariqious Tisdale
DL Jeff Gunter
LB Clay Johnston
LB Keandre jones
LB Clarence Hicks
LB Carson Wells
CB Allan George
CB John Brannon
CB Delonte Hood
CB Brendan Radley-Hiles
CB Abu Daramy-Swaray
S Michael Thomas
S Trayvon Henderson
P Drue Chrisman
LS Cal Adomitis
DTs Domenique Davis
Raymond Johnson III
LB Tegray Scales
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