Debating Cincinnati’s Toughest Cutdown Decisions

By Alex Schubert on August 26, 2024

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The Cincinnati Bengals played their final preseason game last Thursday, and they wasted no time winnowing down their roster. The following morning, the team put 11 players on waivers, with the headliners being 2023 Bengals Jackson Carman and Kwamie Lassiter II.

Bengals announced they waived 11 players:
–WR Hakeem Butler
–HB Noah Cain
–OT Jackson Carman
–DE Andre Carter
–LB Aaron Casey
–S Michael Dowell
–CB Allan George
–WR Kwamie Lassiter II
–QB Rocky Lombardi
–G Eric Miller
–DT Joshua Pryor

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 23, 2024

Those moves provided some clarity as to the eventual 53-man roster, but as the final cutdown is hours away (4 PM Eastern on Tuesday), there are still tough decisions remaining. Players who’ve spent training camp fighting to earn a spot will learn their fates very soon. Let’s take a look at the four position groups where the competition has been fiercest.

Linebacker

Four linebackers are locks to be Bengals by the end of the day: Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt, Akeem Davis-Gaither, and Joe Bachie. Their status at the top of the depth chart has never been in question. Beyond them, however, are three roster candidates — Devin Harper, Shaka Heyward, and Maema Njongmeta — who Bengals fans have had their eyes on all summer. Interestingly enough, each member of this group ranks in the top three among the team’s leading tacklers this preseason.

Njongmeta has perhaps been the breakout performer of the Bengals offseason. He led Cincinnati in tackles in both Weeks 1 and 2 of the preseason and then “only” finished second on the team in Week 3. The undrafted rookie has already become a fan favorite due to his work ethic, on-field intensity, and flashy plays. However, his pass coverage is still a work in progress and his slightly undersized frame might make it an uphill battle for him to clinch a roster spot.

Harper and Heyward are the other two players in the mix, and neither has much regular-season success to speak of. Harper has five career NFL tackles, and Heyward spent his rookie campaign on the Bengals’ practice squad. The ultimate difference-maker may be how much the team values each player as potential special teams contributors.

53-MAN ROSTER PREDICTIONS: Joe Bachie, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Devin Harper, Maema Njongmeta, Germaine Pratt, Logan Wilson

Offensive Line

This is the part of the article where I pop champagne to celebrate Carman’s release. After that, I will raise my glass and give a toast to the strong preseason that the rest of the Bengals’ O-line unit had.

All Bengals offensive linemen combined in the 2024 preseason:

Only 13 pressures
3 combined sacks + hits
83.3 pass block grade

The 83.3 pass block grade was 3rd in the NFL.

— Andrew Russell (@Andrew_Russell7) August 23, 2024

Offensive line depth was a major concern heading into the season, particularly after Amarius Mims suffered a pectoral injury. But the unit pulled together and assured fans that they just might be all right this year, especially on the interior. In particular, rookie center Matt Lee had one of the more underrated preseasons of anyone on the Bengals. He showed well in a depth role and played a key part in several touchdown drives.

Call me crazy, but Bengals 7th round pick Matt Lee might be the steal of the draft

Out of 53 dropbacks in the pass game this preseason, he has allowed ZERO pressures for Cincinnatti

This includes 1st team reps vs the Bears this weekend pic.twitter.com/NI9eymDLhp

— Football Digest (@FoootballDigest) August 19, 2024

(Side note: Can anyone spell our city’s name correctly?)

53-MAN ROSTER PREDICTION: Orlando Brown Jr., Trent Brown, Alex Cappa, Cody Ford, Ted Karras, Jaxson Kirkland, Matt Lee, Amarius Mims, Cordell Volson, possible free agent acquisition

Punter

Brad Robbins was statistically one of the worst punters in the NFL last season. As a result, the Bengals staged a major punting competition this offseason, bringing in Texas A&M’s Austin McNamara and BYU’s Ryan Rehkow. McNamara was waived on August 7, leaving Rehkow as the sole challenger to Robbins. Rehkow quickly became Cincinnati’s only active punter after Robbins sustained an injury that limited him to just three punts for the entire preseason.

Rehkow received the majority of the reps by default, but Robbins was statistically the better punter. Robbins edged out the rookie with a higher average yards per punt (50.0 vs. 46.5), fewer yards per return (7.0 vs. 9.0), and a (slightly) higher PFF grade (62.8 vs. 58.9). If Robbins can return to full health anytime soon, he has a real case to make the team over Rehkow.

Special teams coach Darrin Simmons has noted the improvements that Robbins has made since his lackluster rookie campaign.

Five observations from Day 2 of #Bengals training camp:
Brad Robbins was the first guy on the field and his warmup routine included trying to punt a ball into a trash can 65 yards away.
“He’s a little bigger. He’s a little stronger. All good things,” said Darrin Simmons pic.twitter.com/C8pRpxQhZc

— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) July 25, 2024

53-MAN ROSTER PREDICTION: Ryan Rehkow; that is, until Brad Robbins is fully healthy again

Tight End

While position groups like offensive tackle and linebacker lack depth, the Bengals have an enviable surplus of tight ends. Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson, Erick All, and Tanner McLachlan have all performed well enough to make the roster, even if there isn’t room for everyone.

We’ve only seen a microcosm of what Hudson, All, and McLachlan are capable of, particularly with the majority of their playing time without Joe Burrow under center. The rookies gave adequate performances throughout the preseason, and Hudson was serviceable as the Bengals’ starter last season. However, the numbers game dictates that there will be an odd man out.

53-MAN ROSTER PREDICTION: Erick All, Mike Gesicki, and Drew Sample are roster locks. As for Hudson and McLachlan? Flip a coin. It could go either way.

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