The Cincinnati Bengals have a preseason game at the end of this week, which means it's time to look at the team's first depth chart of the 2024 season.
As is tradition, the first depth chart, and really any that are released by the team during the season, doesn't accurately depict how players are truly stacked up position by position. Reps are what determines most positions, and there are a few players listed in curious spots despite the reps they've received in training camp.
By the time the regular season rolls around next month, these current dynamics may easily be changed on the depth chart.
Trent Brown over Amarius Mims at RT
On the subject of reps, Mims has taken every single one at right tackle outside of the day he missed half of practice due to the heat. Brown hasn't practiced with the team since mandatory minicamp as he spent the first week of training camp on the Non-Football Injury.
Mims has looked objectively great while Brown has been rehabbing. Brown did receive good news over the weekend as he was cleared to practice off the NFI list, but he remained a bystander during the first day he was eligible to return.
The long-term plan may be for Brown to start Week 1, which is what this could reflect, but Mims might just change those plans altogether if Brown doesn't return to practice soon.
Trenton Irwin over Andrei Iosivas at WR
Outside of Mims, Iosivas has been the brightest star of Bengals camp thus far . He's gotten plenty of reps with the starting offense as Ja'Marr Chase continues to "hold-in" for a new contract. The offense also needs to land on a new #3 receiver for the season, and Iosivas' growth has him primed to take it.
Irwin has been getting ample reps with the starters as well, but Iosivas' upside combined with the tape he's putting out should make him the more attractive option to start by the time Chase re-enters the picture. Rookie Jermaine Burton is also in this hunt, but Iosivas appears to have the upper hand on him.
Drew Sample over Mike Gesicki at TE
This one's a bit confusing. Sample isn't even more experienced than Gesicki, he just has more experience playing in Cincinnati. Why he's listed the starter despite the fact that Gesicki was signed to play that role is puzzling, but perhaps it's due to Sample's ability to play inline and block while Gesick is more of a big-bodied slot receiver.
There's no doubt Gesicki will out-snap Sample when the real games begin as he's locked in for a notable receiving role . This might just be semantics as to who's the "real" tight end of the duo.
Cam Sample over Myles Murphy at DE
This is how you know these depth charts aren't made to be authentic. Murphy has been with the ones throughout camp as both Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard deal with minor injuries. Not only has Murphy been ahead of Sample in the real order of operations, Sample suffered a lower leg injury last week and hasn't practiced since.
When everyone in the position group is healthy, Murphy is only behind Hendrickson and Hubbard. There's no world in which Murphy is healthy and below Sample on the depth chart.
Nate Brooks, Allan George over Josh Newton at CB
Call this the rookie treatment for Newton. George has been with the team for the past two years, and Brooks is a long-time vet who was just signed last week. Neither are ahead of Newton, Cincinnati's fifth-round pick from this year's NFL Draft. in the real standings at cornerback. He's no lower than fifth judging off of the order in which they go through position drills and who sees the field in team drills. Newton has even been taking reps with the starters from time to time.
Newton may not be competing with DJ Turner II and Dax Hill to start, but he's not this far behind, either.
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