Bengals’ Roster Down To Final 53
Cincinnati made the necessary moves today to trim its roster down to 53 players. While some may find themselves back in the striped helmet Wednesday, many will have to clear waivers before being announced to the 16-man practice squad. Here are the moves made today to get down to the 53-man roster:
Released:
- S Trayvon Henderson
- DE Noah Spence
- WR Mike Thomas
Waived:
- LS Cal Adomitis
- QB Jake Browning
- P Drue Chrisman
- T Devin Cochran
- DT Domenique Davis
- TE Nick Eubanks
- G Nate Gilliam
- LB Clarence Hicks
- CB Delonte Hood
- WR Trenton Irwin
- DE Raymond Johnson III
- LB Keandre Jones
- WR Kwamie Lassiter II
- TE Thaddeus Moss
- RB Jacques Patrick
- WR Kendric Pryor
- TE Justin Rigg
- LB Tegray Scales
- DT Tyler Shelvin
- DT Tariqious Tisdale
Waived/injured:
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
- LB Joe Bachie
The defending AFC champions are looking to run it back with much of the same roster as last year. Thirty-eight of this year’s 53-man roster were on last year’s Super Bowl roster, with the differences coming on offensive line and at the bottom of the depth chart.
Additionally, it appears all six 2022 draft picks made the roster for the Bengals, as well as one undrafted rookie signing. With so many starters returning from the Super Bowl team, all the rookies will be expected to contribute in backup roles. First- and second-round defensive backs Daxton Hill and Cam Taylor-Britt figure to factor heavily into the defensive rotation, though. Also in the secondary, cornerback Allan George is the lone UDFA from this year’s crop to make Cincinnati’s final roster.
To call it the final roster is a bit misleading as the Bengals will likely follow their own trends from last season, setting the roster up for multiple post-deadline moves. The roster currently includes 11 defensive backs, not including starting safety Jessie Bates, working currently on a roster exemption. Taylor-Britt could likely find his way to the four-week injured reserve list after undergoing core surgery recently. Defensive end Khalid Kareem will join Taylor-Britt on short-term IR, according to head coach Zac Taylor, with a hamstring injury.
Many expect Cincinnati to mirror a roster move from last year with wide receiver Thomas. Thomas is a vested veteran who will avoid the waiver wire and is expected to re-sign with the team after a corresponding roster move, exactly what he did last year.
Finally, two position battles have been effectively decided with the waiving of long snapper Adomitis and punter Chrisman. Both intended to challenge incumbents Clark Harris and Kevin Huber from their long-time starting jobs. After avoiding being unseated, Huber is now on track to set a franchise record for games played in a Bengals uniform. Harris is close behind, trailing Huber by just six games.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/15/22
Today’s Reserve/Futures deals signed in the NFL:
Cincinnati Bengals
- CB John Brannon, QB Jake Browning, C Lamont Gaillard, S Trayvon Henderson, RB Elijah Holyfield, TE Thaddeus Moss, DE Noah Spence, TE Scotty Washington, WR Pooka Williams
Los Angeles Rams
- WR Landen Akers, T Chandler Brewer, DB Antoine Brooks Jr., DE Earnest Brown IV, DB Tyler Hall, RB Javian Hawkins, G Jeremiah Kolone, WR J.J. Koski, TE Kyle Markway, DB Kareem Orr, T Max Pircher, DE Jonah Williams
New York Giants
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/8/22
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: TE David Wells, LB Tahir Whitehead
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: WR Austin Trammell
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: S Tony Jefferson, T Jaryd Jones-Smith, Isaiah Mack, Tony Poljan
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: RB Reggie Bonnafon, DT Frank Herron, WR Keith Kirkwood, WR C.J. Saunders, TE Stephen Sullivan, DB Madre Harper
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: WR Dazz Newsome
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: QB Jake Browning, DT Mike Daniels, K Elliott Fry, S Trayvon Henderson, DE Noah Spence, G Keaton Sutherland, WR Trent Taylor, DT Renell Wren
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: CB Brian Allen, S Adrian Colbert, G Hjalte Froholdt, CB Herb Miller, DE Curtis Weaver
- Waived: LB Willie Harvey Jr.
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: TE Blake Jarwin (story)
- Promoted: S Tyler Coyle, RB JaQuan Hardy, RB Ito Smith
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: LB Tavante Beckett, T Dan Skipper
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: C Josh Myers (story)
- Promoted: DL Abdullah Anderson, LB La’Darius Hamilton
Houston Texans
- Promoted: WR Jalen Camp, DL Michael Dwumfour, LB Connor Strachan
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from IR: WR Parris Campbell
- Promoted: DB Anthony Chesley, DB Will Redmond, DT Chris Williams
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: P Joseph Charlton, RB Nathan Cottrell, QB Danny Etling, WR Josh Hammond, OL Badara Traore, OL Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from IR: TE Derek Carrier
- Promoted: OL Lester Cotton, WR Tyron Johnson, DT Damion Square
- Waived: TE Daniel Helm
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from IR: LB Kyler Fackrell
- Waived: CB Essang Bassey
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: DB Jake Gervase, DB Grant Haley
- Waived: S JuJu Hughes
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from IR: TE Ben Ellefson
- Promoted: LB Tuf Borland, TE Zach Davidson, S Myles Dorn, DT T.Y. McGill, CB Bryan Mills, CB Parry Nickerson, CB Tye Smith, DE Kenny Willekes
New England Patriots
- Promoted: DB Sean Davis, DL Daniel Ekuale, DB D’Angelo Ross
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: C Will Clapp, DL Malcolm Roach, DB KeiVarae Russell
New York Giants
- Promoted: WR Alex Bachman, QB Brian Lewerke, WR David Sills
New York Jets
- Promoted: WR Tarik Black, DE Ronald Blair
- Waived: S Sharrod Neasman, DE Shaq Lawson (story)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: T Kayode Awosika, LB Christian Elliss, RB Jason Huntley, DB Jared Mayden, DB Mac McCain, TE Richard Rodgers, TE Noah Togiai, T Casey Tucker, DT Raequan Williams, DT Marvin Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: G Rashaad Coward
- Waived: DE Isaiah Buggs
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: CB Emmanuel Moseley
- Promoted: LB Mark Nzeocha, LB Curtis Robinson
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: WR Aaron Fuller, DB Michael Jackson, DB Josh Jones, WR Cody Thompson
- Placed on IR: T Brandon Shell
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: G Aaron Stinnie
- Promoted: RB Kenjon Barner, TE Darren Fells, WR Cyril Grayson
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: DE Kevin Strong, RB Jordan Wilkins, DE Da’Shawn Hand
- Waived: RB Jeremy McNichols
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: FB Alex Armah, DE William Bradley-King, TE Temarrick Hemingway, S Jeremy Reaves
- Placed on IR: TE Ricky Seals-Jones
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/25-12/26/21
Here are the NFL moves from Christmas and today:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: DE Josh Mauro, DB Kevin Peterson, P Ryan Winslow, WR Greg Dortch
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from IR: LB Daren Bates
- Promoted: WR Marvin Hall
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: LB Daelin Hayes
- Promoted: QB Kenji Bahar, DB Robert Jackson, DB Tony Jefferson, T Jaryd Jones-Smith, NT Isaiah Mack, G/DT Reginald McKenzie, TE Tony Poljan, DB Jordan Richards, LB Joe Thomas, DB Daryl Worley
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: DT Eli Ankou
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from IR: QB Sam Darnold
- Promoted: RB Reggie Bonnafon, DB Madre Harper, DT Frank Herron, G Mike Horton, TE Stephen Sullivan
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: DB Duke Shelley
- Promoted: DE Ledarius Mack, WR Dazz Newsome, DB Dee Virgin, WR Nsimba Webster, QB Ryan Willis
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: LB Austin Calitro, DT Mike Daniels, DE Noah Spence, WR Trent Taylor
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: DB Maurice Canady, DB Donovan Wilson
- Promoted: DB Kyron Brown, DB Darian Thompson
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: T Quinn Bailey
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: LB Tavante Beckett, LB Curtis Bolton, TE Shane Zylstra
- Placed on IR: DB Amani Oruwariye
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: S Innis Gaines
Houston Texans
- Extended: DE Ron’Dell Carter
- Activated from IR: WR Danny Amendola, DE DeMarcus Walker
- Promoted: WR Jalen Camp, DT Michael Dwumfour, K Dominik Eberle, G Jake Eldrenkamp, T Carson Green, DE Demone Harris, TE Paul Quessenberry, RB Jaylen Samuels, T Jordan Steckler, LB Connor Strachan, LB Josh Watson, S T.J. Green
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: DB Anthony Chesley, WR Keke Coutee, G Carter O’Donnell, DB Brian Poole, DB Will Redmond, DT Chris Williams
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: RB Nathan Cottrell, WR Josh Hammond, DB Brandon Rusnak
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: DB Dicaprio Bootle, TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart, DB Josh Jackson, P Johnny Townsend
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from IR: DB Tyree Gillespie
- Promoted: G Lester Cotton, DB Kavon Frazier, WR Tyron Johnson, NT Damion Square, QB Nathan Peterman, WR Dillon Stoner
- Placed on IR: DB Johnathan Abram
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: WR Michael Bandy, RB Darius Bradwell, NT Andrew Brown, DB Ben Deluca, LB Emeke Egbule, WR Maurice Ffrench, DT Forrest Merrill, WR Jason Moore
- Placed on IR: TE Donald Parham
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from reserve/NFI: RB Cam Akers
- Activated from IR: RB Buddy Howell
- Promoted: DB Grant Haley, WR Brandon Powell
- Released: LB Jamir Jones, RB Mekhi Sargent
New England Patriots
- Activated from IR: LB Josh Uche
- Promoted: DT Daniel Ekuale, DB D’Angelo Ross, WR Kristian Wilkerson
New York Giants
- Promoted: DB Darqueze Dennard, DL David Moa, CB Aaron Robinson, WR David Sill V, OL Isaiah Wilson
New York Jets
- Promoted: OL Isaiah Williams, TE Dan Brown, WR D.J. Montgomery, LB LaRoy Reynolds, DL Ronald Blair, S Elijah Benton, DL Freedom Akinmoladun
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: S Jared Mayden
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: P Corliss Waitman
- Activated from IR: C J.C. Hassenauer
- Promoted: P Cameron Nizialek, OL Rashaad Coward, RB Trey Edmunds, LB John Simon
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: DT Myles Adams, S Josh Jones, TE Tyler Mabry, OLB Edmond Robinson, WR Cody Thompson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: RB Kenjon Barner, WR Cyril Grayson, P Sterling Hofrichter, DL Benning Potoa’e
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: CB D.J. Hayden, RB Wendell Smallwood, LB De’Jon Harris, DB Jeremy Reaves
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC North
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Steelers moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s AFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Baltimore Ravens
Signed to practice squad:
- OT Adrian Ealy, NT Justin Ellis, LB Blake Gallagher, DB Anthony Levine, QB Trace McSorley, WR Jaylon Moore, TE Tony Poljan, DB Jordan Richards, OT Andre Smith, DE Chris Smith, P Johnny Townsend, K Jake Verity, WR Benjamin Victor
Cincinnati Bengals
Claimed:
- DB Nick McCloud (from Bills), DE Wyatt Ray (from Titans)
Released:
- WR Mike Thomas
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Joe Bachie, CB Tony Brown, P Drue Chrisman, S Trayvon Henderson, LB Keandre Jones, TE Thaddeus Moss, RB Jacques Patrick, CB Winston Rose, TE Mason Schreck, DE Noah Spence, G Keaton Sutherland, WR Trent Taylor, DT Renell Wren, RB Pooka Williams, RB Trayveon Williams
Cleveland Browns
Signed:
- DE Joe Jackson
Placed on IR:
Signed to practice squad:
-
WR Ja’Marcus Bradley, DT Sheldon Day, TE Jordan Franks, DE Porter Gustin, RB John Kelly, LB Elijah Lee, S Jovante Moffatt, QB Nick Mullens (story), WR JoJo Natson, FB Johnny Stanton, OL Jordan Steckler, DE Curtis Weaver
Pittsburgh Steelers
Signed to practice squad:
- DL Daniel Archibong, WR Rico Bussey, FB Trey Edmunds, DB Mark Gilbert, OT Chaz Green, S Karl Joseph, OL John Leglue, LB Christian Miller, G Malcolm Pridgeon, TE Kevin Rader, RB Jaylen Samuels, WR Steven Sims, DB Donovan Stiner, LB Derrek Tuszka, WR Cody White
Bengals Down To 53
The Bengals are in the books. With less than an hour before the deadline, the Bengals announced a series of roster cuts to take them down to 53. Here’s the full rundown:
Placed on Reserve/Non-Football Injury list:
- OT Hakeem Adeniji (pectoral)
- DE Wyatt Hubert (pectoral)
Placed on Reserve/Injured list:
- DE Joseph Ossai (Knee)
Released:
- DT Mike Daniels
- TE Mason Schreck
- DE Noah Spence
- WR Trent Taylor
Waived:
- LB Joe Bachie
- DE Amani Bledsoe
- CB Tony Brown
- P Drue Chrisman
- S Trayvon Henderson
- LB Keandre Jones
- G Michael Jordan
- DT Kahlil McKenzie
- TE Thaddeus Moss
- HB Jacques Patrick
- CB Antonio Phillips
- CB Winston Rose
- K Austin Seibert
- QB Kyle Shurmur
- G Keaton Sutherland
- OT Gunnar Vogel
- WR Scotty Washington
- HB Pooka Williams Jr.
- HB Trayveon Williams
- DT Renell Wren
For now, this leaves the Bengals with seven wide receivers on the roster: Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd, Mike Thomas, Auden Tate, Stanley Morgan Jr., Tee Higgins, and Trenton Irwin. Meanwhile, they’re down a couple starters from last year in Michael Jordan and Mike Daniels.
Bengals To Sign DE Noah Spence
The Bengals are signing free agent defensive end Noah Spence, as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports (via Twitter). Cincinnati brought Spence in for a workout several days ago in the wake of injuries to DLs Khalid Kareem and Joseph Ossai, and as Pelissero notes in a separate tweet, Ossai is likely to miss the entire 2021 campaign. The third-round rookie sustained a meniscus injury that will require surgery.
The loss of Ossai will be an especially difficult pill for the Bengals to swallow. The club mustered a league-worst 17 sacks in 2020, and while the free agent addition of Trey Hendrickson was supposed to help offset Carl Lawson‘s defection to the Jets, Cincy was also relying on Ossai to play a significant role in its pass rush. The Texas product did not disappoint in his preseason debut against the Bucs last week, piling up five pressures and sacking Tom Brady in an absolutely dominant showing.
Unfortunately, Ossai suffered a wrist injury during that game, and as he was being examined for that ailment the following day, he also noted that he was feeling some knee pain. Further examination of the knee revealed the depth of the problem (Twitter link via Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic).
Spence, meanwhile, has not done much since a promising 5.5-sack performance in his rookie season with Tampa Bay in 2016. The former second-round pick did not make it to the final year of his rookie contract with the Bucs, as he was waived as part of final cutdowns in August 2019. He hooked on with Washington several weeks later, but after seven games with WFT yielded just one sack and three tackles, he was waived again.
The 27-year-old signed with the Saints later that year. He did not get into a game with New Orleans, but the club saw enough from him in practice to re-sign him to a one-year contract for 2020. Unfortunately, a torn ACL suffered in May of that year knocked him out for the season, and after he signed another one-year pact this March, Spence was unable to carve out a spot on the Saints’ roster. He was cut one week ago.
The Bengals hope that Spence can finally start to unlock some of his potential in the Queen City. They are going to need it.
DE Noah Spence Works Out For Bengals
Noah Spence is already starting to generate some interest around the NFL. After getting cut by the Saints earlier this week, the defensive end worked out for the Bengals today, reports Aaron Wilson (via Twitter).
An Ohio State cog who transferred to Eastern Kentucky, Spence flashed as a Bucs rookie by registering 5.5 sacks. However, the defensive end has only collected a pair of sacks since that 2016 campaign. His Tampa tenure ended following a 2018 season where he had only three tackles in 12 games, and despite getting into seven games for Washington in 2019, he finished with only three tackles and one sack.
He joined the Saints in late 2019, but a torn ACL forced him out for the entire 2020 season. Spence re-signed with New Orleans earlier this offseason, but he was cut by the organization on Sunday.
The former second-round pick would be hard pressed to earn a roster spot in Cincinnati, but if he does sign, he’ll have at least a temporary opportunity to show his stuff. Both Khalid Kareem and Joseph Ossai are currently sidelined with injuries, and while the duo isn’t expected to miss any regular season time, their absences will open up reps during the preseason.
Saints To Cut DE Noah Spence
A 2021 rule tweak will force teams to cut down to 85 players by Tuesday, and the Saints included a former second-round pick in their first group of cuts. They intend to release defensive end Noah Spence, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football (on Twitter).
Despite Spence tearing his ACL in 2020, the Saints brought him back on a one-year deal worth the league minimum. The former Buccaneers second-rounder, however, could not make enough of an impression to stick with the Saints beyond the first cutdown day.
This marks another setback for Spence, who has been a preseason cut previously. The Bucs jettisoned him in August 2019, and while Spence found his way to Washington later that year, he wound up being waived by the NFC East franchise as well. The Saints scooped him up in March 2020, but the ACL tear marred any game action.
An Ohio State cog who transferred to Eastern Kentucky, Spence flashed as a Bucs rookie by registering 5.5 sacks. In 18 games from 2017-18, however, the pass rusher combined for just one. New Orleans did not include any fully guaranteed money in Spence’s latest deal.
The Saints are also waiving running back Stevie Scott, Underhill tweets. The Indiana product caught on with the team as a rookie UDFA but will now head to the waiver wire.
Saints Re-Sign Noah Spence
The Saints have re-signed edge rusher Noah Spence, according to Katherine Terrell of The Athletic (Twitter link). Due to injury, he has yet to play a down for New Orleans. His new deal is believed to be another one-year arrangement for the sub-$1MM minimum.
[RELATED: Saints Want To Keep Marcus Williams]
The Buccaneers selected Spence in the second round of the 2016 draft and he managed 5.5 sacks in his rookie campaign. Unfortunately, his sophomore season was largely lost to injury and he didn’t really produce in 12 games in 2018. The Bucs waived him prior to the start of the 2019 regular season, leading him to Washington. After two months there, the Saints picked him up in December.
Spence suffered another setback last year when he tore his ACL during spring workouts. Now, it seems like he’s on the road to recovery and ready to compete for a depth spot.