Cincinnati

Bengals

It really strains the limits of credulity to have a 40-year-old practice squad player, but here we are. johnson remains QB3 in Cincinnati after being released at last cuts. Also on Cincy’s practice squad are: RB Kentrel Bullock, QB Sean Clifford, DT Howard Cross, DE Isaiah Foskey, LB Joe Giles-Harris, LB Shaka Heyward, DB Bralyn Lux, RB Kendall Milton, WR Jordan Moore, WR Noah Thomas and DB Russ Yeast.

We’re not viewing this as a major cause for concern, the Bengals have no reason to rush Chase back on the field after he hyperextended his knee last week. If he’s still drawing limited tags on the official injury reports next week, then we can start Panic Mode. Taylor added that Higgins (head contusion) may also be limited this week. "(Tee) and Ja’Marr will be good at the end of the week,” said Taylor.

Brightwell, who played in two games for the Bengals in 2025, won’t make the 53-man roster, though he should catch on with another team ahead of the regular season. The rest of the Bengals’ final roster cuts Sunday included LB Joe Giles-Harris, QB Josh Johnson, S Russ Yeast, LB Liam Anderson, S Daijahn Anthony, G Liam Brown, HB Kentrel Bullock, QB Sean Clifford, OT Andrew Coker, DT Howard Cross III, LB Jack Dingle, DE Isaiah Foskey, LB Eric Gentry, TE Cam Grandy, HB Jamal Haynes, LB Shaka Heyward, DT McKinnley Jackson, DT Jordan Jefferson, WR Xavier Johnson, WR Charlie Jones, OT Christian Jones, TE Josh Kattus, CB Jalen Kimber, CB Bralyn Lux, CB Matthew McDoom, HB Kendall Milton, WR Jordan Moore, DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland, WR Kendric Pryor, G Corey Robinson II, WR Noah Thomas. WR Mitch Tinsley, and CB Ceyair Wright

The 2024 third-round pick appeared in 22 games for Cincinnati during his two years with the team. Jackson oddly requested a trade after just one season in Cincy, though nothing ever materialized. Now he gets the chance to find a team that will give him more playing time. Jackson notched one sack as a rookie and did not record a sack or TFL in nine games last year.

The news was first reported by NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. Jones was a fourth-round pick by the Bengals in the 2023 NFL Draft. The 27-year-old receiver also served as the Bengals’ primary punt and kick returner last year. A solid special teamer, Jones’ next stop is likely on a practice squad somewhere.

Tinsley was a big hit last preseason and had an 8/116/2 receiving line last year in his age-26 season. He’s likely done enough to catch on someone’s practice squad, and perhaps has an outside chance of latching on to a 53-man roster. 2026 fourth-round pick Colbie Young will probably be the main outside backup, while Dohnte Meyers likely squeezed Tinsley out of a roster spot.

Johnson was signed before the Bengals knew they’d be getting Joe Flacco back, but with Flacco in the fold they’ve decided to move on from the 40-year-old. Johnson looked solid enough in the preseason to find a role elsewhere, hopefully on a team he hasn’t been on before for Immaculate Grid purposes.

Meyers seemingly has the No. 4 wide receiver job locked up. On the first drive, he hauled in three passes. He bagged a nine-yard pass on an in-breaking route from the slot on the first, a 17-yard pass via a corner route from the slot and a 25-yard gain on the following play. The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. labeled Meyers a “roster lock,” saying at first a special teams returner role seemed to be Meyers’ ticket to a roster spot, but “the consistency of his playmaking at every turn of camp and the preseason made him undeniable.” He ran with the first-team offense in practice this week, and Bengals wide receivers coach Troy Walters said, “he can play all three positions.” File Meyers’ name away for down the road.

Per Dehner, Young has “made as many highlight catches as anyone, validating the Bengals’ fourth-round pick.” He believes “the seeds of a bright future were planted” for Young this summer. That said, Young is still developing and is likely to start the season as the Bengals’ No. 5 wide receiver.

Dehner has been covering the Bengals’ intent to increase the number of plays run from under center all summer. Last season, “the Bengals ran from under center 120 times on early downs. The league average was 210.” Per Dehner, it has become clear “over the weeks that the under-center offense would not be going away.” The Bengals are committed to changing their ways in pursuit of more explosive gains. Starting RB Chase Brown is a locked-in RB1.