Chatterbox Bengals: A Cincinnati Bengals NFL Podcast

The Cincinnati Bengals have until 6 p.m. ET Sunday to trim their roster down to 53 players, and after months of training camp, preseason games and roster battles, it’s time for a FINAL Cincinnati Bengals 53-man roster projection.
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This podcast goes position by position to predict which players will make the Bengals’ initial 53-man roster for the 2026 NFL season. There are still some difficult decisions to make, but several roster spots have become much clearer following the preseason finale.
At quarterback, the projection has Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco making the roster. Josh Johnson is an interesting name to monitor as a potential trade piece or practice squad candidate as Cincinnati continues to evaluate its quarterback depth.
The wide receiver room features Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Dohnte Meyers and Charlie Jones. Chase and Higgins remain the unquestioned foundation of the group, while Iosivas, Meyers and Jones are competing for important roles behind the Bengals’ two stars. Dohnte Meyers has been one of the biggest surprises of Bengals training camp and preseason.
Two seventh-round rookies also make the projected 53-man roster: tight end Jack Endries and defensive tackle Landon Robinson. Both players entered the summer with plenty to prove, but their performances throughout training camp and the preseason have made them increasingly difficult to leave off the roster.
With the 6 p.m. Sunday deadline approaching, there are still questions surrounding the Bengals’ depth at several positions, along with potential trades, waiver claims and practice squad decisions that could reshape the roster after cutdown day.
Who makes the Cincinnati Bengals’ final 53-man roster? Who gets cut? Which players could surprise everyone on Sunday? And what will the Bengals’ roster look like when the 2026 NFL regular season begins?
Here is the final Cincinnati Bengals 53-man roster projection heading into cutdown day.
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The Cincinnati Bengals capped off an undefeated preseason on Friday, August 28, 2026, with a dominant 30-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. With both teams electing to sit their primary starters, the final exhibition matchup served as a critical showcase for depth pieces fighting to survive upcoming roster cuts. 
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The Bengals' offense clicked early behind veteran quarterback Josh Johnson, who played the entire first half. Johnson looked sharp and poised, completing 12 of 19 passes for 156 yards. He heavily targeted wide receiver Dohnte Meyers, who boosted his roster hopes by hauling in three catches for 51 yards on the opening drive alone. Cincinnati’s first-half drives repeatedly stalled in the red zone, but kicker Evan McPherson proved lethal, converting field goals from 29, 34, and a booming 58 yards out.
Conversely, the Eagles' offense sputtered early under backup quarterback Tanner McKee, who struggled heavily against Cincinnati's relentless pressure. McKee was sacked twice and tossed an interception to Bengals defensive back Tacario Davis. Philadelphia finally got on the board at the stroke of halftime when Jake Elliott drilled a 45-yard field goal, making it 9-3.
The second half brought a flurry of scoring. Sean Clifford took over under center for Cincinnati and quickly orchestrated an efficient drive, finding Ke'Shawn Williams for an 11-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 16-6. The Eagles responded under veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, who played the second half and brought a veteran rhythm to the offense. Dalton orchestrated an impressive 14-play, 76-yard drive that culminated in a 5-yard touchdown pass to running back Carson Steele, narrowing the deficit to 16-13.
However, Cincinnati's ground game completely took over in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach. The Bengals' rushing attack finished the night with 211 total yards. Kentrel Bullock wore down the Eagles' defense, capping a physical drive with a 6-yard touchdown run. Minutes later, Jamal Haynes put an exclamation point on the victory, bursting through the line for a spectacular 39-yard touchdown scamper.

Former Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis is speaking out about Mike Brown, and his comments are already creating plenty of discussion among Bengals fans. On Trey Wingo's Inside Football podcast, Lewis pushed back against the long-standing perception that Mike Brown is primarily concerned with money rather than winning.
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Lewis says Brown "wants to win in the worst way," loves quarterbacks, and doesn't believe in mortgaging the future for one season. So, is that an accurate description of the Bengals' owner? We break down what Marvin Lewis said, what we agree with, what we don't, and whether Mike Brown's approach has actually changed since Joe Burrow became Cincinnati's franchise quarterback.
We'll also look at how much more aggressive the Bengals have been this offseason and why Joe Burrow appears to have changed the organization's approach. The Bengals have a legitimate opportunity to contend in 2026, and we'll discuss whether Cincinnati is finally taking advantage of having an elite quarterback.
Plus, we dive into ESPN's latest breakdown of the Bengals' rookie class and discuss which rookies appear headed for the 53-man roster. We'll talk about C.J. Hicks, Tahj Brooks, Connor Lew, Kobe Young, Brian Parker II, Andres Borregales and Landon Robinson, along with the battles that could determine Cincinnati's final roster decisions.
How many Bengals rookies make the 53-man roster? What did Marvin Lewis really reveal about Mike Brown? And has the Bengals' philosophy changed with Joe Burrow?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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The Cincinnati Bengals are getting ready for their preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, and with Zac Taylor confirming that the starters will not play, the spotlight shifts entirely to the players fighting for roster spots.
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On today's show, we preview Bengals vs. Eagles from a Cincinnati perspective, focusing on the biggest back-of-the-roster battles that could help shape the final 53-man roster. The Bengals still have decisions to make, particularly along the offensive line, where Jalen Rivers and Javon Foster could see significant action at tackle following the release of Cody Ford.
We also take a closer look at Landon Robinson and the competition around the defensive line, plus what Friday night's game could mean for several players on the roster bubble.
But before diving into the preseason finale, we recap some of the biggest stars of Bengals training camp.
Dohnte Meyers has been one of the stories of the entire summer. From Presbyterian College and Delta State to the CFL, DoorDash, and eventually earning an opportunity with Cincinnati, Meyers has taken advantage of every opportunity. After impressive performances against the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, is he now on track to make the Bengals' 53-man roster?
We also discuss Dexter Lawrence, Ja'Marr Chase and DJ Turner as some of the standout performers from Bengals training camp, along with Joe Burrow's progress heading into the regular season.
How will the Bengals handle their final roster decisions? Can Jalen Rivers or Javon Foster ease concerns at offensive tackle? Will Dohnte Meyers play against Philadelphia? And which players could make one final push for a roster spot?
We'll break it all down from a Bengals perspective.
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The Cincinnati Bengals are now 2-0 in the 2026 NFL preseason after dominating the Chicago Bears 27-9, and this game provided plenty of reasons for Bengals fans to be excited.
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While preseason wins and losses ultimately don't count, Zac Taylor is now one win away from leading Cincinnati to its first undefeated preseason since 2006. More importantly, the Bengals are showing impressive depth across the roster—and nowhere is that more obvious than at wide receiver.
Dohnte Meyers continued his incredible preseason with another strong performance, while rookie Colbie Young scored his first Bengals touchdown. Noah Thomas also found the end zone, and the competition involving Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones, Mitch Tinsley and others is becoming extremely interesting.
Could Dohnte Meyers actually make the Bengals' 53-man roster? Is Colbie Young proving Cincinnati made the right decision with its fourth-round pick? And could the Bengals have the deepest wide receiver room in the NFL?
We'll also discuss Erick All Jr.'s long-awaited return to the field, Connor Lew's comeback from injury, Tahj Brooks' bounce-back performance and Landon Robinson's continued emergence. Erick All's return was especially important after missing significant time, and simply getting him back into a competitive game environment was a major milestone.
But there's one major concern that could threaten Cincinnati's Super Bowl hopes: offensive line depth.
The Bengals released Cody Ford after his struggles, leaving serious questions about who can step in if Cincinnati suffers an injury along the offensive line. Should Duke Tobin make another trade? Could Cincinnati use one of its deep positions—wide receiver, tight end or defensive line—to acquire offensive-line help?
We'll break down the Bengals' biggest winners, losers, roster battles and concerns following the 27-9 preseason win over Chicago. With the regular season approaching, these decisions could have a major impact on Cincinnati's 2026 Super Bowl hopes.
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Cincinnati Bengals fans had a collective scare Tuesday when star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase went down with an apparent knee injury during practice. The good news came quickly, however, as Chase later indicated that the injury was minor and that he felt fine.
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Chase was running a deep route during team drills when he went up for a pass from Joe Burrow and landed awkwardly on his left leg. He immediately grabbed his knee and appeared to be in significant discomfort before making his way to the sideline under his own power. Trainers examined him, and Chase remained around the team rather than heading immediately to the locker room.
After practice, Chase provided the update Bengals fans were hoping to hear. Speaking with ESPN 1530 Cincinnati, he described the injury as a “little hyperextension” and said he was fine. Chase also indicated that he could have continued practicing if necessary, but the Bengals understandably chose to shut him down for the remainder of the session as a precaution.
That distinction is important. A hyperextended knee can range from a relatively minor issue to something more significant depending on whether ligaments or other structures are damaged. At this point, though, there is no indication that Chase suffered a major structural injury, and the immediate signs are encouraging.
The timing also works in Cincinnati’s favor. The Bengals still have more than two weeks before their regular-season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 13.
For now, this appears to be a situation the Bengals will monitor rather than panic over. Chase’s ability to walk off the field, remain engaged with teammates and, most importantly, describe himself as feeling fine are all positive signs. Still, Cincinnati will undoubtedly take every precaution with its most important offensive weapon.
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The Cincinnati Bengals have released veteran offensive lineman Cody Ford, ending his three-year run in Cincinnati. The 29-year-old versatile swing tackle and guard appeared in 50 games with 10 starts after signing as a free agent in 2023. Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed the move Monday, noting the team wanted to give Ford a head start on landing elsewhere ahead of final roster cuts this weekend. Ford began camp competing for backup tackle snaps behind Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims, but younger options like Javon Foster and Jalen Rivers have taken second-team reps recently, including in the preseason loss to the Bears. Taylor praised Ford’s flexibility, willingness to play multiple spots on short notice, and solid contributions over three seasons. This early cut signals the Bengals’ desire to reshape offensive line depth and potentially add help via free agency or the waiver wire. What does this mean for the unit protecting Joe Burrow? How will the depth chart shake out? We break down the reaction, film notes from camp, and what comes next for both Ford and Cincinnati. 

The Cincinnati Bengals have no questions at the top of their wide receiver depth chart with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but the battle behind them has become one of the most intriguing storylines of the preseason. We break down Andrei Iosivas, rookie Colbie Young, CFL standout Dohnte Meyers, Mitchell Tinsley and Charlie Jones, their performances throughout training camp and the preseason, and the difficult decisions Cincinnati faces as it determines which receivers will make the final 53-man roster.
 
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