Cincy Jungle
Now that the season is, for all intents and purposes, over, it is time for the Cincinnati Bengals to find out what they have. After its latest defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati stands at 3-7, its once-promising season nothing more than a shadow of what might have been.
Offensively, the Bengals boast one of the top receiving duos in the NFL and have shown the ability to score at will. The defense, on the other hand, has been abysmal throughout most of the season, with its most promising game coming Sunday against the Steelers. Yet missed tackles continue to plague this unit, and untimely penalties revealed an undisciplined group with little accountability.
Buried on the 53-man roster and tucked away on the practice squad are a number of players who may or may not be able to make a difference. The only way to find out is to give them a try.
Let’s start with some players who got in the game on Sunday on a limited basis. Give them an opportunity to start for the remainder of the season, and see what happens. What do they have to lose? Cincinnati is not going to make the playoffs and is already going nowhere in a hurry.
One name on the list would be defensive end Cedric Johnson, who was in on 45% of the defensive snaps in Pittsburgh. Johnson was drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss, where he totaled 16 sacks and 35 tackles for loss. At 6-3 and 264 pounds, Johnson is viewed as a promising depth player who can strengthen the Bengals’ pass rush as he gains experience.
Safety Tycen Anderson has earned a spot in the starting lineup. The incumbents, Geno Stone and Jordan Battle, have struggled mightily this season, and change should definitely be on the table. Anderson, who was selected in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft and is the recipient of the 2024 Ed Block Courage Award, played only two snaps Sunday.
Cornerback DJ Ivey has been a standout performer on special teams for the Bengals and played seven snaps against the Steelers. A seventh-round pick out of Miami in the 2023 NFL Draft, Ivey has shown promise with his length, speed, and versatility, playing both outside and slot corner positions.
McKinnley Jackson, at 6-2 and 330 pounds, was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. A defensive tackle out of Texas A&M, Jackson is known for his strong tackling and his ability to disrupt plays behind the line of scrimmage. He played 16 snaps at Pittsburgh.
Cornerback Josh Newton played collegiate football at Louisiana-Monroe and TCU, where he excelled in coverage with strong tackle and interception numbers, including 35 tackles and three interceptions during his standout 2022 season at TCU. Newton played 18 snaps Sunday.
One of the most promising pieces hidden away on the practice squad is linebacker/defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland, who was drafted in...
