Cincy Jungle
Bengals football is back, baby!
It’s here! It’s finally here!
The offseason is over. Training camp has officially opened for the 2025 season as the Cincinnati Bengals—well, most of them—took the practice fields outside Paycor Stadium for their first practice of the preseason.
With that comes a whole bunch of speculation, which is what we’re going to do now.
Here’s my first prediction for the team’s 53-man roster.
Notes: I’m a UC guy, and I’m just as excited as anyone that Des Ridder is wearing a Bengals jersey right now, but Browning has done it for real when he was needed most. Until someone takes it from him, Browning is Burrow’s backup.
Notes: Zack Moss is on the NFI list with the same neck injury that sidelined him last season, and I don’t think the Bengals will go into the regular season with only one running back from the season prior on the final roster. Samaje Perine was in Cincinnati before, but that doesn’t mean he’s up to date on everything the offense does currently, and Tahj Brooks is a rookie. Milton spent last season on the Bengals’ practice squad and is familiar with the system. If Moss improves down the line, this could change.
Notes: Five of the six spots are taken, and Pryor, who has been on-and-off again with the Bengals’ practice squad since 2022, edges everyone else out.
Notes: They have one guy who can catch really well, one guy who can block really well (and makes the fans jump for joy when he scores), and a guy who can do a little bit of both. Erick All Jr. will be missed, but gives McLachlan a shot to crack the rotation.
Notes: Two things can be true at the same time. The Bengals’ front office didn’t do enough to shore up the offensive line, specifically at guard. Also, some combination of the offensive lineman listed above could give Burrow the best protection he’s had in his young-ish career. Hopefully, the second one becomes more true than the first.
Notes: There are a lot of assumptions being made, such as Hendrickson and Stewart will sign soon. There’s no one on the field right now that could potentially...
