Bengals DE Cameron Sample Suffers Torn Achilles
Cameron Sample will be sidelined for the entire 2024 season. The fourth-year Bengals defensive end has suffered an Achilles tear, head coach Zac Taylor confirmed on Monday. 
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The injury occurred during Friday’s practice, and Sample was carted off the field. Today’s news means he will be unavailable for the campaign, something of particular importance for his financial future. Sample, 25 in September, is a pending free agent. This injury will no doubt hurt his market value.
The former fourth-round pick has been a regular on defense during his Cincinnati tenure, making 47 appearances in the regular season and another six in the playoffs. Sample has only made three starts in that time, but his absence will still be felt along the edge for the Bengals. The Tulane alum has collected 58 tackles and five sacks while maintaining a steady snap share in each of the past three years.
The Bengals will move forward with Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard as starters along the edge. Sample’s injury will leave the team relying more heavily on the likes of Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy. The former has struggled to stay healthy and productive in the NFL so far, but he is confident in a breakout campaign in 2024, the final year of his rookie contract. The latter, meanwhile, will look to build off his three-sack debut Cincinnati campaign from last season.
The remainder of training camp along with the preseason will provide players like 2022 seventh-rounder Jeff Gunter, sixth-round rookie Cedric Johnson and UDFA Justin Blazek with the opportunity to land a roster spot in Sample’s absence. If Cincinnati deems a late-summer free agent addition to be necessary, the team has over $19MM in cap space to work with. Yannick Ngakoue, Carl Lawson and Charles Harris are among the top veterans still on the market.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/4/24
Today’s minor transactions to close out the weekend:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Shayne Simon
- Waived (with injury designation): DE David Ugwoegbu
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Jacob Hollister
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from active/NFI list: T Trent Brown
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S Faion Hicks
- Waived: S Dyshawn Gales
- Released from IR: C Brian Allen
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: RB Gary Brightwell, TE Chris Myarick
- Waived: RB Lorenzo Lingard, TE Josh Pederson
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DT Taylor Stallworth
- Waived: CB Christian Holmes
The Browns were looking forward to stashing Allen’s starting experience as a reserve lineman on the interior. Unfortunately, he suffered a calf injury that ended his season before it even began. Only on a one-year contract anyway, Allen will now get a head start on the free agency he would’ve faced at the end of this season.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson will not be coaching his son, Josh, this season, it appears. The 26-year-old tight end appeared in three games under his father in 2023.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/28/24
Here are today’s minor moves to close out the weekend:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Demetric Felton
- Placed on exempt/international player list: P Tory Taylor
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from active/NFI list: TE Erick All
Dallas Cowboys
- Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): CB Kemon Hall
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from active/PUP list: G Joe Thuney
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from active/PUP list: LB David Long
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Josiah Bronson
- Activated from active/NFI list: RB Antonio Gibson
- Activated from active/PUP list: RB Terrell Jennings
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: G Tremayne Anchrum, T Jesse Davis
- Placed on IR: OL Justin Herron
- Waived: OL Mark Evans II
New York Giants
- Signing: CB Breon Borders
- Activated from active/PUP list: TE Theo Johnson
- Waived: QB Nathan Rourke
Thuney has been working his way back from a pectoral injury. After suffering the strain in a Divisional Round win over the Bills, the injury held Thuney out of the team’s final two wins over the Ravens and 49ers. Having passed his physical, Thuney will return to practice in order to take the next steps on his way back to the field.
The Giants weren’t the only team to submit a waiver claim for Rourke as he continues to try and turn his success in the Canadian Football League into an NFL opportunity. Now, after being buried on the depth chart behind Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito, Rourke is able to look elsewhere for that chance at playing time in the NFL.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/26/24
Today’s minor moves to wrap up the week:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Devin Carter, TE Feleipe Franks, CB Kiondre Thomas
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: WR Cam Sims
- Reverted to IR: DT Popo Aumavae
- Waived: T Christian Duffie, S Clayton Isbell, WR Sam Pinckney
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Nate Brooks, WR Hakeem Butler, P Ryan Rehkow
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from active/NFI list: CB Corey Ballentine, T Caleb Jones
- Activated from active/PUP list: OL Donovan Jennings
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: OLB Owen Carney
- Waived: LB Luquay Washington
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: CB Derion Kendrick (story)
- Placed on reserve/retired list: DT Aaron Donald (story)
New England Patriots
- Waived: CB Kaleb Ford-Dement
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from active/NFI list: WR Shaquan Davis
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Marquise Blair
- Waived: S Jonathan Sutherland
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: TE Salvatore Cannella
Blair reunites with the Seahawks after two years away. A former second-round pick for Seattle, Blair spent parts of 2022 with the Panthers and Eagles before spending last year out with an Achilles tear.
Cannella, who formerly went by Sal, played for the Arlington Renegades of the UFL earlier this year, leading the league with six receiving touchdowns and finishing first among tight ends with 53 catches and 497 yards. He’s been in an out of the NFL with stints in the USFL and XFL before; the Bucs are hoping this time will stick.
Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase Seeking Extension, Not Participating In Practice
By virtue of picking up Ja’Marr Chase‘s fifth-year option, the Bengals have their top wide receiver tied to his rookie contract for two more seasons. Coming into this offseason, no team in the option era had extended a first-round wideout with two years of rookie-deal control remaining. But clubs have changed course recently.
The Eagles and Dolphins, respectively, paid 2021 first-rounders DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. The Bengals are viewed as unlikely to follow this offseason trend, eyeing a 2025 Chase payday. The fourth-year receiver appears to be attempting to force the issue. Chase is not practicing for a second straight day, and the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway indicating the Pro Bowler wants a new contract.
This process is veering toward a hold-in. This tactic has become a common practice during the 2020s, after the 2020 CBA made holdouts more difficult to wage. With the Bengals not known to cave in to player demands often, this will be an interesting storyline to follow.
Chase said during minicamp he was fully healthy, via ESPN.com’s Ben Baby, and the Bengals have not placed him on their active/NFI list. This further points to a hold-in measure being waged. The Bengals have shut down Jonah Williams, Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson‘s trade requests over the past two offseasons, but Chase will attempt another way to bring management to the table.
Chase did not show for Cincy’s OTAs but did report to minicamp. At the mandatory offseason event, however, Chase only participated in Bengals walkthroughs. The Bengals have effectively earmarked a Chase extension, as they have Higgins tied to the franchise tag for the 2024 season. Higgins’ Cincinnati future is blurry, while the team has identified Chase as its No. 2 overall priority (behind Joe Burrow, who is already extended).
Mike Brown said (via Conway) the Bengals have started negotiations with Chase. The Vikings had begun talks with Justin Jefferson last year, but the sides were unable to come to terms by Week 1. This led to negotiations being tabled to 2024, when the Vikings hammered out a record-setting deal. The guarantees in Jefferson’s four-year, $140MM extension ($110MM in total, $88.7MM in full) proved eye-popping around the league and are certain to have changed Chase’s target. Chase had indicated he wanted to wait for his former college teammate’s contract before finalizing a push for his own extension. A year younger than Jefferson and vital for a Super Bowl contender’s mission, Chase has some leverage he can try to exert.
That said, the Bengals have the LSU product tied to a $1.1MM 2024 base salary and a fully guaranteed $21.82MM fifth-year option f0r 2025. While the team hold the cards here, Chase will eventually require a contract the Bengals typically have not been comfortable authorizing.
Joining the Packers in being against guarantees beyond Year 1 for non-quarterbacks, and Baby adds the Bengals have bristled at the notion they will need to change their contract preferences for non-QBs. The Vikings guaranteed Jefferson’s 2024 and 2025 base salaries and most of his 2026 money.
Structure figures to become a sticking point for an old-school organization, complicating its Chase talks. The Bengals may well have a clearer path to a deal in 2025, when Higgins — barring a second tag not used to be traded — comes off the books. For now, no deal is imminent.
Bengals To Give Amarius Mims ‘Every Opportunity’ To Beat Out Trent Brown At RT
The last of this year’s draftees to sign his rookie contract, Amarius Mims now finds himself in what may be the largest position battle in NFL history. It is certainly on the short list. The 6-foot-8, 340-pound rookie is set to challenge a 6-8, 370-pound veteran to round out the Bengals’ offensive line.
Cincinnati signed Trent Brown as a stopgap of sorts but soon addressed the position with its first-round pick, adding Mims in an upside-based bet at No. 18. The Bengals taking advantage of a tackle-rich draft has given them an interesting situation at right tackle, with the depth chart forming shortly after Jonah Williams — a converted left tackle — joined the Cardinals in free agency.
[RELATED: Offseason In Review: Cincinnati Bengals]
Brown signed shortly after Williams’ defection, but Mims appears to be on near-equal footing with the recent Patriots starter. The Bengals will give the Georgia product “every opportunity” to overtake Brown, The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. writes (subscription required). Although Mims’ minimal college starter experience makes him a reasonable candidate as a developmental option behind Brown, it is notable the Bengals do not view their RT situation that way.
Mims made all of eight college starts in three Georgia seasons, showing immense potential when on the field. The SEC product battled injuries in college; the ankle injury he sustained last season required tightrope surgery and left him sidelined for much of the campaign, threatening to hurt his draft stock. Mims made his first starts during the 2022 College Football Playoff before logging six starts at right tackle in 2023. That is an interesting profile for a player chosen 18th overall, but the young blocker showcased tremendous potential during the draft run-up.
The Bengals gave Brown a one-year, $4.75MM deal a few days into free agency; that contract included $2MM guaranteed at signing. Brown, 31, carries significant injury risk and was at odds with the Patriots at points last season; some in New England viewed the mammoth tackle as protecting his stock for free agency rather than returning as quickly as he could have. Ankle and knee trouble limited Brown to 11 games last season, marking the fifth time in six seasons he has missed at least five games in a single campaign. That limited Brown’s market, and with the 10th-year lineman starting camp on the active/NFI list, the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway notes Mims will receive the bulk of the first-string reps.
Cincy saw its 2022 plan at right tackle fizzle when La’el Collins underwhelmed before ACL and MCL tears, leading to the Orlando Brown Jr. signing and Collins’ eventual release. Williams’ free agency exit, as big money went to a Tee Higgins franchise tag, opens the door for an interesting two-deep.
With Mims already in competition, Trent Brown shifting to a swing role — one Dehner notes is the better fit for the former Super Bowl starter at this point — may be on tap early in the season. Upon returning from the NFI list, Cincy’s older RT option will have work to do to book a 10th season as a starter.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/23/24
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived (with injury settlement): OL Carter O’Donnell
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OT Julién Davenport
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from PUP: WR Jalen Coker, Chau Smith-Wade
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on NFI: OT Trent Brown
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: QB Jacob Eason
- Waived: LS Peter Bowden
Houston Texans
- Reverted to IR: WR Jared Wayne
- Released from IR: WR Jaxon Janke
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on PUP: LB Darien Butler, OL Jacob Johanning, OL Jackson Powers-Johnson, WR Jalen Guyton, T Kolton Miller
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on PUP: TE Tyler Higbee
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Kyric McGowan
- Placed on PUP: WR Odell Beckham, LB David Long
- Placed on IR: WR Tahj Washington
- Activated off NFI: RB Salvon Ahmed, S Mark Perry
New England Patriots
- Placed on PUP: C Jake Andrews, WR Kendrick Bourne, G Cole Strange, LB Sione Takitaki
- Placed on NFI: RB Antonio Gibson
New York Giants
- Placed on PUP: T Evan Neal▪️, CB Aaron Robinson
- Placed on NFI: DB Jalen Mills, DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Nehemiah Shelton
- Activated from PUP: WR Tyler Harrell, DT Leonard Taylor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on NFI: DB Cooper DeJean
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on PUP: LB Dre Greenlaw, S Talanoa Hufanga
- Placed on NFI: WR Ricky Pearsall
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Marcus Simms, OT Jalen Sundell
- Activated from PUP: LB Jerome Baker, CB Lance Boykin, LB Tyrel Dodson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on NFI: QB Zack Annexstad, TE Tanner Taula
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on PUP: WR Colton Dowell, OT Nicholas Petit-Frere
Bengals To ‘Try Hard’ To Complete Ja’Marr Chase Extension
With the deadline having passed for franchise tag recipient Tee Higgins to sign a long-term deal, he will play out the 2024 campaign ahead of an expected free agent departure next offseason. By that point, fellow Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase will likely have an extension in place.
The latter has played three years in the NFL, making him eligible for a second contract. With Cincinnati having made the obvious decision of picking up his fifth-year option, Chase is on the books through 2025. A multi-year commitment at or near the top of the receiver market is in the team’s plans, though.
When speaking to the media on Monday, Bengals owner and de facto GM Mike Brown said the team will “try hard” to ensure quarterback Joe Burrow is able to continue playing with his former LSU teammate for years to come (h/t Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer). Brown labeled Burrow as priority No. 1 for the franchise, something demonstrated by his $55MM-per-year extension signed last offseason. Chase, per Brown, is No. 2 on that list.
In spite of that remark, Brown notably added (via ESPN’s Ben Baby) a Chase mega-deal is not likely to be hammered out this summer. He said “the die has probably been cast” regarding an agreement not coming together until next offseason. It will be interesting to see if that stance alters negotiations once training camp opens.
The 24-year-old earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2021, and he has received a Pro Bowl nod in each of his three Bengals campaigns. Chase has seen the market move to new heights this offseason, with Justin Jefferson landing $35MM per year on his Vikings accord. That pact – which Chase waited to be finalized before taking part in Bengals negotiations – is the most expensive one ever given to a non-quarterback. Chase skipped OTAs, but he did participate in mandatory minicamp, suggesting he could elect to avoid a training camp holdout this week.
Brown also confirmed (via Conway) Cincinnati is hoping to work out an extension with kicker Evan McPherson. The 2021 fifth-rounder has had a consistent start to his career, putting him on the radar for a multi-year deal keeping him in the fold beyond 2024. McPherson, 25, resides in a division featuring three of the highest-paid players at the position. Justin Tucker (Ravens), Dustin Hopkins (Browns) and Chris Boswell (Steelers) are among the nine kickers attached to a deal averaging at least $5MM per year. The Bengals would likely need to make the Florida product a member of that group to keep him in place him via a second contract.
With almost $38MM in projected cap space for next offseason, Cincinnati has the flexibility to retain a number of impactful in-house players. Chase and McPherson are logical candidates for new deals, and it will be interesting to see if one or both have extensions in hand by the time the regular season starts.
Bengals Not Seeking CB Addition
A number of veteran cornerbacks are still available, but the Bengals are not currently in the market for an addition. When speaking to the media on Monday, player personnel director Duke Tobin expressed confidence in the team’s incumbent options. 
“I like what we’ve got there,” Tobin said (via Jay Morrison of Pro Football Network). “We’ve got young guys that can run and cover, who have a lot of upside to them. We’ve got some new guys working in there, and it will be exciting to see how they do. Do I feel like we have an immediate need for a veteran to make our team? No.”
Cincinnati struggled against the pass last year, and improving the secondary was deemed an offseason priority. That led to a number of moves at the safety position, but major additions at the cornerback spot were not made. The Bengals have two starting spots locked up in the form of 2022 second-rounder Cam Taylor–Britt on the perimeter and veteran Mike Hilton in the slot.
The other boundary corner role will come down to DJ Turner or Dax Hill. The former struggled in coverage as a rookie while the latter has not fit in as planned at safety. Hill transitioned to corner this spring, and training camp will offer the Bengals an opportunity to evaluate his progress. Cincinnati has a number of relatively inexperienced corners further down the depth chart, so adding one of the options still on the market would give the team insurance at the position.
The likes of Stephon Gilmore, Xavien Howard, Adoree’ Jackson and Patrick Peterson have yet to find a new home, though that will likely change in the near future. Many veterans sign deals at the onset of training camp, and waiting a few weeks could leave the Bengals short on options to choose from if a signing is deemed necessary. For now, however, Cincinnati will move forward with attention focused on the Turner-Hill competition.
Bengals Sign First-Round T Amarius Mims, Complete Draft Class Deals
The final member of the 2024 draft class is on the books. Bengals first-rounder Amarius Mims signed his rookie contract on Monday, per a team announcement.
[RELATED: Recapping Bengals’ Offseason]
This pact is worth $15.37MM full guaranteed over four years. That figure includes a $7.99MM signing bonus. Mims will be under team control through at least 2027, but like all Day 1 picks a fifth-year option could keep him in the fold for another season beyond that.
Jonah Williams departed in free agency, and right tackle was a key area of need for Cincinnati. As planned, the team sought out a short-term option at the position by signing Trent Brown to a one-year deal. To little surprise, though, several first-round prospects were considered in the lead-in to the draft. One of those was Mims, whom the Bengals selected at No. 18.
The 6-7, 340-pounder flashed considerable upside during his time at Georgia. More established options on the depth chart along with injuries severely limited his playing time, however. Mims got his first starts during the 2022 College Football Playoffs before logging three game at right tackle to begin the 2023 campaign. An ankle injury required tightrope surgery and left him sidelined for much of the season, threatening to hurt his draft stock.
Mims’ potential nevertheless allowed him to become a top-20 selection, and he will enter the NFL with high expectations. On the books in time for Wednesday (Cincinnati’s first training camp practice), Mims will spend the summer competing with Brown for the first-team RT gig. The team’s preference would likely be a redshirt rookie campaign given his lack of game reps in college, but Mims’ performance over the coming weeks will dictate how early he sees the field at the NFL level.
Here is a final breakdown of Cincinnati’s draft class:
- Round 1, No. 18: Amarius Mims (T, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 49: Kris Jenkins Jr. (DT, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 80: Jermaine Burton, WR (Alabama) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 97: McKinnley Jackson (DT, Texas A&M) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 115: Erick All (TE, Iowa) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 149: Josh Newton (CB, TCU) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 194: Tanner McLachlan (TE, Arizona) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 214: Cedric Johnson (DE, Ole Miss) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 224 (from Cardinals through Texans): Daijahn Anthony (DB, Mississippi State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 237: Matt Lee (C, Miami) (signed)