CINCINNATI — The Bengals cut the roster down to 53 players on Sunday and there weren’t many surprises in a year where continuity and depth made only a few spots truly feel open to unseating the placeholder.Every draft pick was kept for the sixth consecutive season, and the defensive line depth that has been the talk of camp was shown by keeping 11 linemen and only four linebackers. That was partially a nod to the reformed five-down base structure coordinator Al Golden is leaning all the way into his year. It was also partially where the talent landed.Here’s a look at the most important details and themes from the cutdown to 53.
Here is a snapshot of the #Bengals intial 53 and cuts.
(Depth chart is my own view) pic.twitter.com/yk2EaTqdLG
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) August 30, 2026Back of roster built with chemistry in mindThe Bengals, in recent years, have held onto a collection of talented, young players who struggled on and off the field to adjust to the NFL.Players like Jermaine Burton, Daijahn Anthony, McKinnley Jackson and Cam Taylor-Britt. Even at the top of the roster, hanging on to Trey Hendrickson rather than dealing him in March.A year later, the Bengals roster cutdown day is full of stories of players desperate to succeed in the NFL, with stories of overcoming adversity.Dohnte Meyers, PJ Jules, Landon Robinson, Jacob Bayer and Swayze Bozeman are all defined by willing themselves onto this roster and seizing opportunity, despite odds being stacked against them.Is 2026 the Cincinnati Bengals' best offense under Joe Burrow?Robert MaysThose are the types of players who build winning chemistry rather than tear it apart. There will be games this year when each of these players will be counted on to do a job or help a teammate do a job. There will be no doubt in their ability to do so or desire to do anything that helps the team win.There were too many guys on this roster in recent years you couldn’t say that about, whether it be staying out of trouble off the field, maintaining conditioning, knowing the playbook or, you know, showing up for stuff.This is how you build a connected locker room, something the Bengals’ coaches, staff and Joe Burrow have emphasized as a priority. Find players dedicated to being great teammates who truly love the game and have proven that fact.Tight end decision was trickyBehind the obvious top three at tight end — Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample and Erick All Jr. — the Bengals stuck with Tanner Hudson and seventh-round pick Jack Endries to fill out the group.Going with five tight ends isn’t a surprise; that was essentially expected with how they use the move-tight ends in different blocking and fullback roles while only employing three running backs.The interesting decision was waiving tight end Cam Grandy while keeping Hudson. This came down to a matter of philosophy. The Bengals’ shift to more under-center, specifically running 12 and 13 personnel out of it, played into Grandy’s strengths. The third-year blocking tight end out of Illinois State could slot in behind Sample and take on a collection of those duties. Meanwhile, Hudson, while productive and beloved by the quarterbacks, doesn’t contribute much in the run game and is more of a straight backup for the receiving tight end Gesicki. The difference this year compared to previous years is the philosophical shift, paired with Endries entering the equation and his ability to take on some of Hudson’s receiving role. Given Hudson’s production, he could have been interesting to dangle to other teams as trade bait for a pick or player.Instead, Grandy likely reverts to the practice squad. He’d been up on the 53 for 24 straight games dating back to Week 10 of 2024, although only active 13 times. Much of his role came in the wake of All’s injury. The need for Grandy is less with All healthy. Still, it’s fair to see Grandy still playing a decent amount this year despite Sunday’s decision. He’s just too useful to specific game plans and an answer if any one of three tight ends sustains an injury.Tanner Hudson leaps with a defender in the Bengals’ preseason win over the Lions. (Sam Greene / Imagn Images)Stewart decision loomsShemar Stewart endured an ugly hyperextension of his knee during the first day of training camp. He dodged a bullet on what could have been a season-ending knee injury, but the extent of how much time he misses in the regular season is still up in the air.Cincinnati didn’t place the 2025 first-round pick on injured reserve to start the season.That’s the good news. The bad news is that this was not the deadline. Stewart could still end up on IR-return. Opting not to put Stewart on the list that requires a player to miss the first four weeks of the season merely buys time.The Bengals can now wait to see more of Stewart’s progress in his rehab and see if a roster spot is suddenly needed to make another move. None of those are time-dependent until right before the first game of the year.If Stewart makes progress and they think he can come back in enough time to make even missing the first couple of weeks worth it, he’ll stay on the 53. If not, they can place the IR-return tag on him before the opener and he will be eligible to return on Oct. 11 against Miami.Parker and Taylor open the doorLast-minute injuries to rookie Brian Parker II (knee) and cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor (hamstring) shook up the final spots of the 53. Both were placed on IR-return, which allowed 23-year-old Jacob Bayer to sneak onto the roster after a fantastic camp. He’s largely a center, but as he impressed, the Bengals started cross-training him at guard over the last week. He had not played guard since high school.Taylor’s injury pushed Josh Newton into the mix. He played well in the preseason finale against the Eagles and that was a nice confidence boost for a player who has practiced well over time, but it’s not always translated to games.It’s still unlikely either will be active for the opener against the Buccaneers, but still a great sign about their standing for now.Charlie Jones versus Ke’Shawn WilliamsThere’s only one player in the NFL with at least one return for a touchdown each of the last three seasons. He’s now without a team.Jones was drafted in 2023 with the idea of being an electric inside-outside mix player with an ability to bring juice to the return game. He did bring some over the last three years, but a constant barrage of injuries wore on a coaching staff feeling they couldn’t count on him to suit up every week anymore. Then, when Ke’Shawn Williams showed up midway through last season and started popping off a few dynamic returns, he provided a reminder of what the Bengals were missing with Jones back there.Williams ripped off a 49-yard kickoff return in the first preseason game, and that matched his tape from last year. In the end, I truly believe this was more Williams winning the job than Jones’ injury issues costing him, but that did increase Jones’ degree of difficulty.More moves coming?What are the chances this was it from the Bengals and they really are rolling with Javon Foster and Jalen Rivers at the back tackle spots? Will there be anybody available on the waiver wire who would walk through the door and, without a single day in the playbook, be a better option to protect Burrow’s blind side than Foster?That’s asking a lot of any player who just got waived in a league where nobody gives up on potential average offensive tackles. It’s always possible the Bengals really liked the tape of a particular player who got let go and they made it down the line to their waiver claim spot. It just doesn’t feel likely.For them to secure the offensive tackle position, they needed a veteran with real experience and would probably have to give something up in the process.They could still go out and sign somebody like Cam Robinson, but the clock is ticking on the opener and this seemed like the time to knock out that negotiation.If this ends up being it for the Bengals, that’s quite a risk, hoping nothing happens to Amarius Mims or Orlando Brown.
