Bengals sound ready to ignore free agency, trades again despite injuries

Cincinnati Bengals fans will feel a sense of deja vu with this one — don’t expect the team to get active in free agency or via trades despite roster issues.

After a 1-3 start at least partially fueled by major injuries along the entirety of the defensive line, the Bengals front office, led by director of player personnel Duke Tobin, seems more than happy to just wait on their own guys to get back.

It’s a line of thought exemplified no better than this quick summary from The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. recently: “There’s always a chance the perfect storm comes together, but the eyes will be on the development — and, more importantly, health — of the current players providing the solution.”

The only perfect storm Bengals fans can hope for is better health that leads to production.

Things have moved in that direction recently, at least. B.J. Hill sounds like he’s nearing a return. Myles Murphy and third-rounder McKinnley Jackson are back practicing. And second-rounder Kris Jenkins Jr. sounds headed for an expanded role.

In fact, the only guy who might not be back to a massive snap count anytime soon is Sheldon Rankins, given the latest on his injuries.

Still, fans can be forgiven for feeling some frustration here. The lack of an effective pass-rusher after Trey Hendrickson was an obvious weakness. Banking on a pair of rookies to be primary backups behind Rankins and Hill — after losing DJ Reader, of all players — was a super-risky gamble.

Now, the Bengals are gambling again — by likely not gambling at all. By the time the early November NFL trade deadline arrives, the team is hoping that inaction and sticking to the risky plan lets this seem like a speedbump and the season hasn’t been lost because of it.