For the time being at least, Michael Johnson will not be part of the Bengals’ 53-man roster. The longtime starting defensive end does not appear among Cincinnati’s regular-season contingent, signalling a changing of the guard opposite Carlos Dunlap.
While Johnson could well return, with Cincinnati.com’s Paul Dehner Jr. tweeting this is a possibility because of the team trying to protect as many young players from the waiver wire as possible, he’s again off the roster. Johnson spent a year with the Buccaneers in 2014 but returned to Cincinnati a year later.
He’s been a Bengals starter in five of the past six seasons, but third-round selections of Jordan Willis and Carl Lawson last year — along with 2018 third-rounder Sam Hubbard — made the 31-year-old talent a less important commodity. Johnson registered five sacks last season and has 44 in his career.
As for the rest of the Bengals’ cuts, here are the other players who aren’t on the 53-man roster.
Released as vested veterans:
- TE Ryan Hewitt
- C T.J. Johnson
Waived:
- LB Brandon Bell
- DB Tyrice Beverette
- TE Moritz Bohringer
- WR Devonte Boyd
- DT Andrew Brown
- K Jonathan Brown
- RB Quinton Flowers
- TE Jordan Franks
- CB C.J. Goodwin
- RB Brian Hill
- LB Junior Joseph
- C Brad Lundblade
- WR Jared Murphy
- T Justin Murray
- T Kent Perkins
- DT Simeyon Robinson
- WR Kayaune Ross
- CB KeiVarae Russell
- WR Ka’Raun White
- WR Kermit Whitfield
- DT Eddy Wilson
- QB Logan Woodside
- LB Chris Worley
Placed on IR:
The placement of Barkley on IR and the waiving of Woodside leaves Jeff Driskel as the Bengals’ only Andy Dalton backup. It would be logical if the Bengals examined the waiver wire this weekend for a possible signal-caller addition.