Tuesday Trenches: Bengals 53-man roster prediction post MNF edition

It’s time again for another stab at predicting who will make it on the Cincinnati Bengals’ final 53-man roster. We’re through two of the three preseason games, having just wrapped up their appearance on Monday Night Football against the Commanders, a game they won by a score of.

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Someone asked me to include who gets cut this time, so I did that.

Here we go!

Quarterback (2)

• Joe Burrow
• Jake Browning

Cut: Desmond Ridder, Payton Thorne

Notes: Browning looked like his old, reliable self against the Commanders. Jumping from him to Desmond Ridder last week was jumping the gun a little.

Running Back (3)

• Chase Brown
• Tahj Brooks
• Samaje Perine

Cut: Gary Brightwell, Quali Conley, Kendall Milton

Notes: Brown is, without a doubt, the lead back, and I watched Brooks, a rookie, step up as a pass blocker against the Eagles and the Commanders. Perine is a reliable veteran to round out the room. This offense flows through Burrow, not the running backs. What they bring is a bonus. There’s no need to keep more than three.

Wide Receiver (6)

• Ja’Marr Chase
• Tee Higgins
• Andrei Iosivas
• Charley Jones
• Jermaine Burton
• Mitchell Tinsley

Cut: Cole Burgess, Jamoi Mayes, Jordan Moore, Rashod Owens, Isaiah Williams

Notes: Tinsley earns my vote after scoring two touchdowns on back-to-back offensive plays (separated by an interception and an extra point). That’ll land him a spot on the final roster.

Tight End (4)

• Mike Gesicki
• Drew Sample
• Noah Fant
• Tanner Hudson

Cut: Cam Grandy, Tanner McLachlan

Notes: No changes here. Gesicki, Sample, and Fant are locks, and Hudson has been solid all preseason. He’s earned his spot.

Offensive Line (10)

• Orlando Brown Jr.
• Dylan Fairchild
• Ted Karras
• Lucas Patrick
• Amarius Mims
• Cordell Volson
• Matt Lee
• Jalen Rivers
• Cody Ford
• Seth McLaughlin

Cut: Devin Cochran, Andrew Coker, Jaxson Kirkland, Andrew Raym, Andrew Stueber, Caleb Etienne

Notes: No change here. Hopefully, the Bengals and Dalton Risner, who’s reportedly coming to Cincinnati for a visit, can come to an agreement, because right guard looks like a problem. Again.

Defensive Line (10)

• Trey Hendrickson
• B.J. Hill
• T.J. Slaton
• Joseph Ossai
• Shemar Stewart
• Myles Murphy
• Kris Jenkins
• McKinnley Jackson
• Cam Sample
• Cedric Johnson

Cut: Isaiah Thomas, McTelvin Agim, Eric Gregory, Taven Bryan, Howard Cross III, Raymond Johnson III

Notes: This is so tough. I really do think the Bengals and Hendrickson get a deal together, but I also have a hard time believing he’ll sit out when he’s on the wrong side of 30. I think the Bengals know that, and it’s a crappy way to do business, and it shows all the young guys in the locker room what they have to look forward to, but I think Trey plays in 2025, no matter what.

I hope.

Linebacker (5)

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