HoosierCat

I’m not *too* worried about 2024. Right now they have more than $66 million in cap space to work with, and that’s with Burrow already counting for nearly $30 million with his fifth year option. So any new deal shouldn’t bite too deeply into that 66 number. Lots of moving parts tho. I am sure we will have plenty to complain about.

Probably like always they’re going to keep some guys and lose some guys. Chase I have no doubt will be retained. Tee they seems committed to keeping, we’ll see if they can do a deal. They’ve been pouring a lot of draft capital into the secondary so I’d bet Chido will get paid, but not here. Reader (and Hill!) are both coming up to FA fast and both going would leave them with 0 NTs. I expect both $$$ and picks to be thrown at that sooner rather than later.

Some PS moves yesterday: The Bengals today made the following player moves: Signed TE Zach Gentry and DE Garrett Nelson to the practice squad. Gentry (6-8, 265), a fifth-year player out of the University of Michigan, originally was a fifth-round pick of Pittsburgh in 2019. He played in 40 regular-season games (26 starts) for the Steelers, catching 39 passes for 303 yards. Nelson (6-4, 245), a rookie out of the University of Nebraska, was a college free agent signee of Miami this year. He spent the offseason and training camp with the Dolphins, and recorded five tackles with one sack in three preseason games. Released LB Tyler Murray from the practice squad. Murray, a rookie out of the University of Memphis, originally signed with the Bengals as a college free agent in May. The Bengals' practice squad currently is at the 16-player limit.

Well, if you believe a deal is going to get done before the start of the season, predicting it will happen today is pretty much a no-brainer since the season starts tomorrow! So yeah, I guess we're here. Let's hope it happens.

More in the genre. The rest here: https://wapo.st/45FqPiu (gift link for you cheapskates)

Chido cleared for action against Cleveland. Burrow still “day to day.”

They haven’t won their first away game of the season since 2018 (Indy). Would be nice to break the streak…

Some good chuckles here, especially in the fan comments at the end. https://defector.com/why-your-team-sucks-2023-cincinnati-bengals

Oh well. Guess the “less crowded d-line room” theory was correct.

Taylor wouldn’t commit to Joe starting week 1 at today’s presser. Read into that what you will. I would normally ignore it as typical “everything is a state secret including what color socks I’m wearing on game day” head coach behavior, but there’s been enough question marks floating around lately (injury? contract?) that it’s…well, fukking aggravating, frankly.

They could have put Ossai straight on IR. They did that with two other guys as part of the final cuts. But yeah he may think he can come back faster.

So I saw this story by Graziano on espn+ offering up 32 "potential surprises" for each team. So what's the big surprise in store for us Bengals fans? Drum roll, please... Well, Dan, I promise you that I won't. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee that no one will be surprised when (not if) this happens.

AJ Green will be "ruler of the jungle" for the home opener against Pitt. https://www.bengals.com/news/a-j-green-ruler-of-the-jungle-ravens-week-2-2023-season-home-opener

I think you are right about PUP, at least that's how it used to be. As far as I know they don't have to cut a guy to put him on IR. Now, if a player gets hurt in camp, gets cut and clears waivers, he reverts to the team's IR list (because you aren't supposed to be able to be cut due to injury). That player might subsequently be released after reaching an injury settlement. That might be what you are thinking of.

Only thing I can think is that they didn’t have enough info on Ossai yet and will do something like PUP or IR/Return now, and that they have a wink-and-nod agreement with RJ3 to come back in that event. That he hasn’t gone anywhere else yet as far as I can tell supports that but we will see.

Ossai out 4-6 weeks, per Baby. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38292305/joe-burrow-practices-first-july-27-calf-injury Ok, so why didn’t they PUP him and keep RJ3?

Well good for Fred! But it’s just a 2-year deal for this season and 2024 for a total of $2.2 million. And it took four teams to get to that point, including Cincy. Don’t think I’d classify this as a miss by the Bengals.

Well, Mel’s got him as his No. 6 QB prospect so I don’t think he sees him as a top of the first prospect, though others might, I dunno. Based on what he wrote in Nix’s write-up I take it he thinks its Williams and Maye and then everyone else. If anyone wants his write-ups of any other players on the big board let me know.

Adeniji signed with Minnesota.

Ah, the ol' sign a guy from your upcoming opponent trick!

PS announced. Still 2 spots available. S Michael J. Thomas DT Domenique Davis CB Allan George C Nate Gilliam DE Jeff Gunter LB Shaka Heyward TE Tanner Hudson WR Shedrick Jackson CB Sidney Jones IV G Jaxson Kirkland WR Kwamie Lassiter II WR Stanley Morgan LB Tyler Murray

You...me...everyone pretty much.

Starting off with some good news: Burrow back at practice today. https://www.threads.net/@bbaby41/post/Cwk_ltGx0Pk/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

I think he was a free agent but I could be wrong.

OK that’s funny. And sweet. https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/allbengals-insiders-plus/watch-cody-ford-reacts-to-making-bengals-53-man-roster