Two full weeks of training camp and one preseason game are in the books for the Cincinnati Bengals. Position battles have had developments, injuries have occurred, and the initial 53-man roster needs to be finalized in exactly 15 days.
For the fourth time this offseason, it's time to project who will be left on the team when the regular season is upon us.
Note: Players with single asterisk (*) are 2024 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2024 undrafted free agents.
Quarterback (2)
IN: Joe Burrow, Jake Browning
OUT: Logan Woodside, Rocky Lombardi**
The skinny: Woodside had a memorable first game back in Cincinnati and is rightfully QB3 on the depth chart over Lombardi, who didn't see the field. Browning wasn't too impressive, but he has to be a lot worse for any change to be considered here.
Running back (4)
IN: Zack Moss, Chase Brown, Trayveon Williams, Chris Evans
OUT: Noah Cain**, Elijah Collins**
The skinny: Evans' value went up as a kickoff returner when Charlie Jones suffered a knee injury. Even if Jones should only be out for a week or two, this is still a team that likes to go four deep in the backfield.
Wide receiver (6)
IN: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin, Jermaine Burton*, Charlie Jones
OUT: Shedrick Jackson, Kwamie Lassiter II, Kendric Pryor, Hakeem Butler, Cole Burgess**
The skinny: Iosivas and Irwin are very clearly ahead of Burton, but Burton showed why he doesn't need to be facing undrafted free agent cornerbacks ever again in the preseason. Going five deep with him as the fifth option means there's no real need to carry seven. Jones should be good to go by the time the season is here.
Tight end (4)
IN: Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson, Erick All*
OUT: Tanner McLachlan*, Cam Grandy**
The skinny: All went from the Non-Football Injury list to the second-team fairly quickly, which puts McLachlan in a tough spot. He's probably one of the best 53 players on the team, but the closer the season gets, the harder it is to see five tight ends make it.
Offensive line (9)
IN: Orlando Brown Jr., Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, Amarius Mims*, Trent Brown, Cody Ford, Trey Hill, Matt Lee*,
OUT: Jackson Carman, Jaxson Kirkland, Devin Cochran, D'Ante Smith, Nate Gilliam, Eric Miller**
The skinny: When a player effectively plays himself off the team, it looks pretty obvious in real time. That's what happened with Carman on Saturday night. On the surface the nine to make it appear to be three tackles, three guards, and three centers. In reality, Ford is both a tackle and guard, and Hill is both a guard and center. Ideally, Lee continues to play well enough to cut this group down to eight.
Defensive line (10)
IN: Trey Hendrickson, Sheldon Rankins, B.J. Hill, Sam Hubbard, Myles Murphy, Kris Jenkins*, McKinnley Jackson*, Joseph Ossai, Jay Tufele, Cedric Johnson*
OUT: Zach Carter, Jeff Gunter, Domenique Davis, Devonnsha Maxwell, Travis Bell, Justin Blazek**, Carlos Davis, Joshua Pryor, Andre Carter
I.R.: Cam Sample
The skinny: Jackson will be alright after a scare in practice, and they need him to return quickly. Johnson had a nice debut and is on track to take Sample's spot as the fifth edge. Tufele will be back on the field this week and is a safe bet to be the fifth interior guy if Carter continues to flounder in preseason action.
Linebacker (5)
IN: Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Joe Bachie, Maema Njongmeta**
OUT: Shaka Heyward, Devin Harper, Aaron Casey**
The skinny: Njongmeta's gonna be the popular name to make the 53 after leading the defense in tackles Saturday, but it will be Darrin Simmons' trust level with him on special teams that ultimately gets him through cutdown day. That's why Bachie is staying ahead of him.
Cornerback (5)
IN: Cam Taylor-Britt, Mike Hilton, Dax Hill, DJ Turner II, Josh Newton
OUT: Jalen Davis, Allan George, Nate Brooks, Lance Robinson**
PUP: DJ Ivey
The skinny: Newton is a verifiable baller and Hill is absolutely gunning for Turner's starting spot. Competition seems to be benefitting this group, and there's versatility to go around. Davis will be a tough cut, but the next position should help explain it.
Safety (5)
IN: Geno Stone, Vonn Bell, Jordan Battle, Tycen Anderson, Daijahn Anthony*
OUT: P.J. Jules**, Michael Dowell**
The skinny: I don't think the team wants to cut Anthony. He's shown up too much in practice and was lined up all over the field in his debut. He'll be a safety, but can also work in the box and the slot where he played the majority of his snaps in college. So long as you have five cornerbacks and 10 defensive backs overall, your projection should be fairly accurate.
Specialists (3)
IN: Evan McPherson, Brad Robbins, Cal Adomitis
OUT: Ryan Rehkow**
The skinny: Robbins looked fine in round one of his punter battle against Rehkow, but the days are early.
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