We're days away from the Cincinnati Bengals finalizing the initial 53-man roster, but just making the team is only the tip of the iceberg. How the players land on the depth chart is the next step.
The official team depth chart released by the club is, simply put, useless. It's never properly updated throughout the preseason, and it doesn't reflect how players are actually progressing or regressing over the course of training camp. So if you want a real prediction as to how the initial depth chart will look for Week 1, we've got you.
Note: Players with single asterisk (*) are 2024 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2024 undrafted free agents.
Quarterbacks
Starter: Joe Burrow
Reserve: Jake Browning
The skinny: Burrow made it through his first normal training camp healthy. Browning is dealing with a rib injury but should be good to play Week 1 if he has to.
Running backs
Starters: Zack Moss & Chase Brown
Reserve: Trayveon Williams
The skinny: Labeling either Moss or Brown as the starter still feels inaccurate. This is setting up to be a true starting tandem equipped to share equal workloads. Williams is on track to being the only reserve unless a waiver wire addition is made.
Wide receivers
Starters: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Trenton Irwin
Reserves: Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones, Jermaine Burton *
The skinny: If Chase is serious about sitting out games without a new deal , we're calling his bluff. Irwin has been repping in his place since early in the offseason, and even though Iosivas has looked great in the slot, odds are Irwin will likely be the third wideout of the group.
Tight ends
Starters: Mike Gesicki & Drew Sample
Reserves: Tanner Hudson, Erick All*, Tanner McLachlan*
The skinny: There will be games when the Bengals start out in 12 personnel with both Gesicki and Sample on the field. Both players are going to see plenty of snaps to the point where listing both as starters feels responsible.
Offensive linemen
Starters: LT Orlando Brown, LG Cordell Volson, C Ted Karras, RG Alex Cappa, RT Trent Brown
Reserves: OT Amarius Mims*, OT/G Cody Ford, C Matt Lee*, OT/G Jaxson Kirkland,
The skinny: Mims would probably be the starter if he hadn't strained his pec two weeks ago. The right tackle battle will likely pick back up when he returns in the next few weeks.
Defensive linemen
Starters: ED Trey Hendrickson, DT Sheldon Rankins, DT B.J. Hill, ED Sam Hubbard
Reserves: ED Myles Murphy, DT Kris Jenkins Jr.*, ED Joseph Ossai, DT McKinnley Jackson*, DT Zach Carter, ED Cedric Johnson*
The skinny: Jackson *may* be considered a starter when healthy if the defense wants to roll out its heavy 5-man front to open games, but he's been injured for a few weeks and his role is unclear now. Murphy's injury is also something monitor.
Linebackers
Starters: Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt
Reserves: Akeem Davis-Gaither, Joe Bachie, Maema Njongmeta**
The skinny: Njongmeta is by far the safest bet for an undrafted free agent signing to make the team , but he's not starting any higher than fifth on the depth chart.
Cornerbacks
Starters: Cam Taylor-Britt, Mike Hilton, Dax Hill
Reserves: DJ Turner II, Josh Newton *
The skinny: An unofficial congratulations is in order for Hill, who's been practicing as the starting cornerback opposite of Taylor-Britt for over a week now. The Bengals' 2022 first-round pick has won that job over Turner whether or not Zac Taylor is willing to admit it right now. Turner and Newton are good enough to go light at the position with DJ Ivey still on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Safeties
Starters: Geno Stone, Vonn Bell
Reserves: Jordan Battle, Tycen Anderson, Daijahn Anthony*
The skinny: Battle never really had a chance to start over Bell as seen by how the veteran dominated reps in camp. Anthony is listed as a safety but will be seen on the field fairly close to the line of scrimmage like a slot cornerback.
Specialists
First Team: LS Cal Adomitis, P/H Ryan Rehkow, K Evan McPherson
The skinny: Rehkow is healthy while fellow punter Brad Robbins is not. That is all we have to go off of right now.
Kick returners
Kick Returners: Trayveon Williams, Jermaine Burton
Punt Returners: Charlie Jones, Jermaine Burton
The skinny: Burton is now being used as a return specialist, and two kickoff returners are set to be the norm. With Jones back healthy, he'll likely take back the punt returner gig.
Related: Cincinnati Bengals 53-man roster projection following second week of preseason
Comments / 0