2026 53-man roster and practice squad

[ArmyBengal]

Yeah, as much as I hated the Josh Johnson signing when it happened, he clearly is better than any QB3 options I can recall in some time.

Again, 5 TE's?  

[HoosierCat]

Jake Browning got released so we could have his smoking’ GF back…

[HoosierCat]

Re 5 TEs, Gesicki is really a slot receiver and there’s some speculation they are still looking to move Hudson. Dehner seems to think Grandy will be back on the PS too. Bottom line is don’t be surprised if that number changes before week 1.

[HoosierCat]

Stripehype reminded me this morning that Mckinnley was selected with the 3rd round comp pick they got for Jesse Bates. It’s kind of amazing how much of the bengals’ defensive woes of the last few years can be traced back to the idiotic decision to not pay Bates. Multiple wasted draft picks, multiple wasted FA signings, snd we are still hoping this year that Cook is finally the answer.

[ArmyBengal]

I wasn't expecting a 50% turnover in the WR room, but won't complain.
Not that big on Williams, but will be rooting for him.

The D-line transformation was pretty drastic as well.
5 of the 11 are brand new and Cedric Johnson didn't play the first 8 games last year.

The secondary didn't have numbers but some key additions as well.

Bottomline for me is that I like most everything about this roster minus the linebackers.
I won't go on a tirade, but I'll keep it at "I hate them".
Rooting for and liking them as players are two different things.
I'll remain hopeful for Knight and Carter, hoping to eat mad crow due to how stellar they became this year.

[gregcook69]

I watched MOST of the preseason games via NFL+ and did Brooks ever do anything?  I never saw him do squat!!  He was out there going against the defensive 2s and 3s just like Bullock and Haynes.  I guess the coaches know something we don't?!?!

[HoosierCat]

Bengals claim OT Myles Hinton off waivers from Philly.

[HoosierCat]

Can Grandy signing with the Vikes. QB Clifford clears waivers, headed to Cincy PS. CB Lux also coming back to the PS.

[HoosierCat]

4 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

Bengals claim OT Myles Hinton off waivers from Philly.

6th round pick in 2025. Spent all last season on IR (back). Zierlein from his 25 draft profile:

Overview

Hinton comes off the bus with an imposing body type and an impressive bloodline. His mom played basketball at Northwestern and his dad was an All-Pro offensive tackle. Hinton is borderline elite when pulling into space and easily adjusts his body to hit targets on the move. He plays tall and lacks first-contact aggression at the point of attack but can do his job at a decent clip. Hinton can slow a bull rush and mirror inside counters but he too often mistimes his punch and leans or lunges at the top of the rush. His tape might not dazzle, but there aren’t many players with his physical gifts. The allure of unlocking Hinton’s upside will be enticing for teams looking for swing tackle help.

Strengths

Elite blend of height, length and lean mass.

Movements are twitchy in tight quarters and fluid in space.

Can run feet on contact or work up to linebacker smoothly on duo blocks.

Uses long arms to help clean up gap-dwellers for the running back.

Size and tools necessary to dull speed-to-power rush.

Good patience to wait out development of twists.

Has athletic feet to slide back to catch inside moves.

Weaknesses

Needs to stay lower in early stages of the play to create or maintain leverage.

Defenders play off his block or across his face more than they should.

Lacks consistently aggressive strain and block finish.

Pass sets tend to be too reactive and not authoritative.

Carries his hands too low and is late with his punch.

Has a dangerous habit of waist-bending at the top of the rush.

[Stripes]

Free 6th round pick. Cool beans.

i’d imagine he replaces Foster, Rivers, or Bayer (Rivers, please).

[COB]

He got an “impressive bloodline.”  Is this dude a football player or a thoroughbred race horse?  His mom played basketball at Northwestern, his dad was Secretariot.

[ArmyBengal]

I don’t know but there are worse teams to grab a cost off o-lineman from. The Eagles o-line has been solid for some time. I like that snag if for no other reason than depth.

Who gets the boot or does Shemar go on IR? I read he may still have some lingering concerns

[HoosierCat]

1 hour ago, ArmyBengal said:

Who gets the boot

Hudson

[HoosierCat]

Texans grab Tinsley.

[HoosierCat]

Taxi squad so far:

QB- Sean Clifford
RB- Kentrel Bullock
RB- Kendall Milton
DE- Isaiah Foskey
DE- Garmon Randolph
CB- Braylyn Lux
S - Russ Yeast

re Randolph: Garmon Randolph is a DE prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial  8.90 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 206 out of 1860 DE from 1987 to 2025.

 

[HoosierCat]

Add Heyward, Giles-Harris and Cross to the PS

[COB]

2 hours ago, HoosierCat said:

Add Heyward, Giles-Harris and Cross to the PS

If they make it without getting grabbed by another team I can see all 3 of these guys ending up on the team at some point this season.  

[Prophecy]

The Bengals ran 12 Personnel (2 TE sets) on 29% of their plays last season. So, on 71 % of the plays, there was only 1 TTE.I've got an idea, why not keep 5 of them? 

Even better, the Bengals ran 3 LB sets, also on 29% of their plays, but hey, lets just keep 4 on the roster(3 of them 2nd year players). Who the f@#$ needs depth? Or experience?

What kind of coach, in today's game, keeps more TE's than LB's?  Zac f'n Taylor. 

(My problem is not so much with keeping 5 TE's as I really like All and Endries, but more about only keeping 4 f'n Linebackers)

[Stripes]

I'm fairly sure they want to run more 12 personnel, like they did before All got hurt in 2024. Hopefully Endries is up to the task if All can't stay healthy.

Hudson is gone now anyway.

[ArmyBengal]

15 hours ago, HoosierCat said:

Texans grab Tinsley.

I'm happy about this pick up for the Texans.
They only carried 5 WR's and lost Jayden Higgins to an ACL.
I think once Tinsley gets up to speed he will get snaps for sure.

[HoosierCat]

Official taxi squad so far: https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-set-initial-2026-practice-squad

11 spots filled. They have 5 more plus a 17th seat for an international player if they want to sign one.

[ArmyBengal]

I was looking at the RB's who were released and saw that Jaydon Blue was released by the Cowboys, but went to the Eagles.
The Broncos released Jaleel McLaughlin and by all appearances, would be an upgrade in the RB room.
Not much out there to consider however.

[HoosierCat]

Josh Johnson to the PS.

Hudson back via the PS as well.

[HoosierCat]

Last two PS adds, from da site:

*CB Trikweze Bridges. Bridges (6-2, 200), a second-year player out of the University of Florida, originally was a seventh-round pick of Dallas in 2025. He played in 16 games with two starts for the Cowboys last season, recording 21 tackles (16 solos), three PDs and one INT.

*OT Blake Freeland. Freeland (6-8, 305), a fourth-year player out of Brigham Young University, originally was a fourth-round pick of Indianapolis in 2023. He played in 25 games with nine starts for the Colts during the 2023-24 seasons, then spent all of last year on the Reserve/Injured list due to a leg injury.

[HoosierCat]

As far as post-cutdown pickups go, Freeland is about as good as you can expect. Experienced player with starting experience and a track record that’s…average. Good signing.