Stanley

Morgan Jr.

Morgan was one of several players left off the Bengals’ initial 53-man roster. In addition to Morgan, the Bengals also waived/released TE Tanner Hudson, CB Sidney Jones IV, QB Trevor Siemian, WR Trent Taylor, S Michael J. Thomas, OT Hakeem Adeniji, TE Devin Asiasi, TE Nick Bowers, S Larry Brooks, G Ben Brown, DE Owen Carney, WR Malachi Carter, P Drue Chrisman, S Yusuf Corker, DT Domenique Davis, CB Allan George, C Nate Gilliam, DE Jeff Gunter, LB Shaka Heyward, WR Mac Hippenhammer, WR Shedrick Jackson, DE Raymond Johnson III, LB Keandre Jones, G Jaxson Kirkland, WR Kwamie Lassiter II, LB Jaylen Moody, LB Tyler Murray, HB Jacob Saylors, QB Reid Sinett, TE Christian Trahan, and HB Calvin Tyler Jr.

Morgan showed some signs of progress with a limited practice on Friday, but he was ruled out after a DNP on Saturday. Morgan might have had a chance at some snaps on offense with Ja’Marr Chase sidelined because of a hip injury. As it stands, Mike Thomas should get most of the snaps behind Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd.

A restricted free agent the Bengals kept around with a two-year deal, Morgan is a core special teamer dealing with a hamstring injury.

Morgan was a restricted free agent but gets a two-year deal instead of a tender. The 25-year-old is a staple on the Bengals’ special teams units. He has five career catches for 29 yards.

Morgan, one of the Bengals’ top special teams players, will miss his second straight playoff game. Also inactive are WR Trenton Irwin, CB Vernon Hargreaves, RB Trayveon Williams, OL Fred Johnson, and DE Wyatt Ray.

The Bengals will be without Morgan, a key special teams player who has been a standout gunner on the punt team for much of the season. Tee Higgins, after popping up on the injury report Wednesday with a foot injury, will be a full go against the Raiders.

The Bengals are all sorts of banged up at WR, as Auden Tate (concussion, neck, questionable) could join A.J. Green (ankle) on the sideline this week. Morgan (illness, questionable) is the next man up, but Damion Willis should see some snaps as well if both Tate and AJG are ultimately sidelined. It’d be a lot easier to get behind any of the receivers in this offense as realistic fantasy options if Ryan Finley wasn’t under center. Overall, Finley’s average of 3.5 adjusted yards per attempt ranks 47th among 48 QBs with at least 50 pass attempts this season.

Cincinnati will undoubtedly lock him into their practice squad, assuming he goes unclaimed. Morgan (6’0/202) graduated as the Cornhuskers’ all-time leader in catches (189) and receiving yards (2,747), but notched merely five catches on eight targets in two preseason appearances. Morgan’s clean routes and soft hands give him a chance to become a starting NFL slot receiver or flanker in the future.

Morgan (6’0/202) graduated as the Cornhuskers’ all-time leader in catches (189) and receiving yards (2,747), averaging 14.5 career yards per catch with 22 touchdowns. PFF College credited Morgan with a Big Ten-high 535 yards gained on 20-plus-yard targets in 2018, and his high-end athleticism was confirmed at the Combine with 89th-percentile SPARQ results, including adequate 4.53 speed and the second-best three-cone time (6.78) among all wideouts in Indy. Tough enough to win over the middle with outstanding ball skills and a competitive on-field attitude, Morgan’s clean routes and soft hands give him a chance to become a starting NFL slot receiver or flanker.