Bengals address glaring need following roster cuts by signing 2024 draft pick to practice squad

The Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad is in the process of growing from beyond the original 12 .

Joining the practice squad, per ESPN 's Todd Archer, is former Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Justin Rogers.

Rogers was drafted by the Cowboys with the 244th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was a part of final cuts this week for Dallas. He played three years at Kentucky before finishing his college career at Auburn in 2023. He was also the No. 1 recruit in the state of Michigan in 2019.

A subpar athletic and production profile dropped Rogers far in the draft, but his strengths are extremely obvious. He's a big-bodied interior defender at 6-3 and 322 pounds and controls blockers with ease. It's simply tough to move him in the run game.

That perfectly matches what the Bengals need.

With third-round pick McKinnley Jackson on the mend with a knee injury, the Bengals only have one healthy nose tackle on the 53-man roster in Jay Tufele. Jackson made the initial 53, but he's unlikely to play in next Sunday's season-opener against the New England Patriots.

Rogers gives the Bengals an extra body at the position who can be called up from the practice squad for up to three games. The Bengals can also sign him to the active roster full-time if they chose, but a corresponding roster move would be required. Perhaps Tufele would be waived in order to make that happen once Jackson returns.

Rogers also isn't a random name for the Bengals to add. The team met with him at least twice leading up to the draft, including a top-30 visit. There was interest in him months ago, and now the team will get him in the locker room.

Depending on how the roster continues to shake up (there's only two running backs on the team right now), Rogers could see playing time very early in the season. At worst, he's emergency depth at a position that needs it.

Related: Bengals' lone waiver claim will help replace former college teammate on the active roster