2026 Off-season notes

[HoosierCat]

Lew, Young, Parker, Endries and Robinson all signed.

[ArmyBengal]

Hopefully they don’t have the same stupid shit they did with Shemar last year. Just get the shit done and get the guys in camp. That was beyond frustrating last year.

[HoosierCat]

Dehner’s report from day 1 of minicamp:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7263972/2026/05/08/cincinnati-bengals-rookie-minicamp/ 

Howell and Davis not signed yet but they did sign participation waivers so they can practice. So no Shemar issues yet.

[HoosierCat]

2026 sked comes out next Thursday at 730 pm est.

https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-2026-nfl-schedule-release-date-confirmed-may-14 

Prediction: Bengals get 1 overseas game, 1 SNF, 1 MNF, 1 TNF.

[Prophecy]

The lack of talent and depth at LB concerns me more and more all the time.

It seems apparent that they are content with Carter and Knight at LB (i like the potential) but thats only 2 LB's. Granted, they run more 2 LB nickel sets nowadays, but what about when you run 3 LB? One injury, or a 2nd year drop off to either Carter or Knight means you have one of them and Oren Burks or Shaka Hayward. 

That's a huge hole in your Defense.

I dont care if Bobby Wagner is 60 years old and cant cover a TE, neither can any of the Bengals other LB's...but Wagner can still wrap up and tackle. AND a veteran with his knowledge and awareness can help get the youngsters lined up in the right spots presnap. 

You dont even need to restructure Burrow for this (save that for next years improvements or to retain our CB's) just cut TJ Slaton and give Wagner his $6m

[HoosierCat]

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The Bengals on Friday acquired linebacker Swayze Bozeman on waivers from the N.Y. Giants and signed college free agent safety Isaiah Nwokobia.

Bozeman (6-2, 225), a second-year player out of the University of Southern Mississippi, originally was a college free agent signee of Kansas City in 2024. He has played in nine career games for the Chiefs (2024) and Giants (’25), totaling five defensive tackles along with four special teams stops.

https://dayton247now.com/sports/bengals-acquire-linebacker-from-giants-waivers-swayze-bozeman

[COB]

I assume Bozeman will be depth and a probable special teams guy.

[COB]

At least they brought in a depth guy who has a couple years in the league, has been through a season.  It is startling, the way the bengals drafted two linebackers and just stubbornly started them as rookies.  Two rookies, side by side, starting a whole nfl season.  As the kids would say, make it make sense.

[ArmyBengal]

Whatever