The Cincinnati Bengals are entering their final preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and several players are fighting for their futures in Cincinnati. John Sheeran breaks down the Bengals roster battles that matter most before final cuts, including Charlie Jones, Dohnte Meyers, Mitchell Tinsley, McKinnley Jackson, Kris Jenkins Jr., Landon Robinson, Josh Newton, Tanner Hudson and several other players whose Bengals futures could be decided Friday night. The Bengals have to trim their roster from 88 players down to 53 by Sunday evening, and while many players will return to the practice squad, others could be playing their final game in Cincinnati. The first major battle comes at wide receiver and returner. Charlie Jones has been one of Cincinnati's primary return options since arriving as a fourth-round pick in 2023, but Dohnte Meyers' emergence has complicated the picture. Meyers has received first-team reps with Joe Burrow and has provided value as both a receiver and returner throughout the preseason. Could Cincinnati keep both players? Or does that create a path for another player like Keyshawn Williams to take the return role and push Mitchell Tinsley out of the picture? John explains why Tinsley, who looked like a roster lock earlier in the offseason, is now suddenly one of the more interesting bubble players because of the Bengals' receiver depth. The defensive line presents another fascinating decision. McKinnley Jackson has flashed during his time in Cincinnati, but the Bengals' defensive tackle room has completely changed after adding Dexter Lawrence and keeping T.J. Slaton. With Landon Robinson emerging and Kris Jenkins Jr. still viewed as a valuable young player, Jackson could be the odd man out. John also discusses why Jenkins and Robinson could still create an interesting roster decision, including the possibility that Jenkins becomes one of Cincinnati's most valuable trade pieces if the Bengals decide they need offensive tackle help. Then there is Josh Newton. The 2024 draft pick started games for Cincinnati last season, but the cornerback room has improved around him. DJ Ivey, Jalen Davis and Cam Taylor-Britt have created a difficult path for Newton to make the roster. Could Newton return on the practice squad? Or has his time in Cincinnati come to an end? John also breaks down the possibility of a surprise at tight end, where Cincinnati may have to choose between carrying four players or keeping Jack Endries and potentially moving on from Tanner Hudson. The Bengals roster is mostly set. But final cuts are never easy. Several players who have contributed for Cincinnati over the last few years are fighting for one more opportunity, and Friday night's preseason finale against Philadelphia could determine their futures. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, roster projections, final cuts coverage and everything you need heading into the 2026 NFL season. 0:00 Bengals final preseason game stakes 0:48 Final roster cuts are coming 1:55 Players fighting for their Bengals futures 2:30 Charlie Jones vs Dohnte Meyers vs Keyshawn Williams 4:10 Mitchell Tinsley is suddenly on the bubble 5:15 McKinnley Jackson's roster chances 6:45 Kris Jenkins Jr. vs Landon Robinson 7:40 Josh Newton could be on the outside 8:50 Surprise tight end and safety decisions 10:00 Bengals final 53-man roster preview #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

The Cincinnati Bengals offensive line has carried a reputation for years but John Sheeran believes that reputation no longer matches reality. For the better part of a decade, the Bengals offensive line has been one of the biggest criticisms surrounding the franchise. From the final years of the Andy Dalton era to Joe Burrow's early seasons in Cincinnati, the offensive line has consistently been blamed for putting the team's quarterbacks in difficult situations. But is that still true? John breaks down why the Bengals offensive line narrative needs to change entering the 2026 NFL season. The biggest reason for the criticism is obvious: Joe Burrow's injuries. When a franchise quarterback gets hurt, questions about offensive line play naturally follow. And because Burrow suffered a significant knee injury as a rookie behind a poor offensive line, that concern has followed Cincinnati throughout his career. But John explains why the evidence from the end of last season tells a different story. During the final stretch of the 2025 season, the Bengals offensive line developed into one of the strongest units in the NFL. The group gained continuity, Dalton Risner settled in at right guard, Dillon Fairchild improved with experience, and the entire starting five played its best football together. Now, all five starters from that stretch are returning. That includes Amarius Mims, who John believes has the potential to become one of the best pass-blocking tackles in football after taking a major step forward following his first-round selection in 2024. The Bengals offensive line is not perfect. There are still questions about veteran players maintaining their level of play, continued development from younger players and the overall depth behind the starting tackles. But John argues those questions are very different from saying the offensive line is a major weakness capable of ruining Cincinnati's season. The Bengals have invested heavily in changing how they build the offensive line. They have drafted players with the traits they value, added veterans who fit their system and found what John believes is the right offensive line coach in Scott Peters. The result? A unit that finally appears to be built the right way. So why does the negative perception continue? Because the Bengals offensive line was bad for so long that the national narrative has not caught up yet. John Sheeran explains why the Bengals offensive line is no longer the problem many people believe it is and why the 2026 season could finally force that outdated perception to change. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, analysis, roster updates and everything you need throughout the 2026 NFL season. 0:00 The Bengals still have an offensive line PR problem 0:58 Why the narrative hasn't changed 2:00 Is the offensive line actually a weakness? 3:15 The biggest difference from last season 4:25 Amarius Mims changes everything 5:15 All five starters are back 6:05 Why Bengals fans still don't trust the OL 7:20 Cincinnati finally changed its approach 8:15 The Scott Peters impact 8:55 The narrative needs to die #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

The Cincinnati Bengals could be approaching the perfect opportunity to make a trade before final roster cuts and John Sheeran has identified three players Cincinnati could potentially use to finally solve its biggest remaining roster problem. The Bengals still don't have a clear answer at backup offensive tackle. With final cuts approaching and teams across the NFL making difficult roster decisions, Cincinnati could look to capitalize on its depth at other positions to acquire a reliable swing tackle behind Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims. John breaks down why Mitchell Tinsley, T.J. Slaton and Kris Jenkins Jr. make the most sense as potential Bengals trade chips. Tinsley enters the conversation because of Cincinnati's depth at wide receiver. The Bengals appear to have a strong group behind Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas, with Colbie Young and Dohnte Meyers both making compelling cases for roster spots. Meyers also provides value in the return game, while Young is a recent draft pick with multiple years remaining on his rookie contract. That could make Tinsley the most expendable receiver in a position group where Cincinnati has enough depth to potentially make a deal. T.J. Slaton presents a different possibility. Slaton gives the Bengals valuable depth at defensive tackle and is a better option than Cincinnati's alternatives behind Dexter Lawrence II. But if another NFL team needs a quality rotational nose tackle and can offer Cincinnati a reliable backup offensive tackle in return, John explains why a player-for-player trade could make sense for both sides. Then there's Kris Jenkins Jr. Jenkins has been discussed as a possible Bengals trade piece before, but the emergence of rookie Landon Robinson changes the equation. Cincinnati already has Jonathan Allen, Dexter Lawrence II, B.J. Hill and T.J. Slaton occupying significant roles along the defensive line. Robinson has also impressed throughout training camp and the preseason as a developmental interior pass rusher. Could that depth make Jenkins expendable? John explains why Jenkins may be Cincinnati's most logical player-for-player trade asset if the Bengals decide they need to aggressively pursue offensive tackle help. Cincinnati doesn't necessarily have to trade a player, either. Recent Bengals trades have expanded the possibilities, and John discusses why a late-round draft pick or pick swap could also be enough to acquire a quality swing tackle from a team with unusual offensive line depth. Until then, the Bengals will continue evaluating Jalen Rivers and Javon Foster. Foster is receiving work at left tackle while Rivers is working at right tackle ahead of Cincinnati's preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. A strong performance from either player could give the Bengals enough confidence to enter the regular season with an internal option as OT3. But if that doesn't happen, Cincinnati has options. The Bengals have made late-August roster trades before. They have depth at positions other teams could covet. And they still have an obvious need at offensive tackle. Could another Bengals trade be coming before Week 1? John Sheeran breaks down the three players Cincinnati could potentially move and why this may be the perfect time to make a deal. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, analysis, trade coverage, final roster projections and everything you need throughout the 2026 NFL season. 0:00 Could the Bengals make a trade? 0:47 Cincinnati's history of late roster trades 1:50 Why a player-for-player trade makes sense 2:08 Three Bengals who could be moved 2:18 Mitchell Tinsley 3:08 Why Cincinnati could afford to trade Tinsley 4:17 T.J. Slaton 5:01 Could Slaton land a backup tackle? 5:44 Kris Jenkins Jr. 6:18 Why Landon Robinson changes everything 7:20 Jenkins becomes a logical trade chip 7:46 Bengals could trade a draft pick instead 8:18 Why Cincinnati should capitalize on its depth 8:44 Jalen Rivers vs. Javon Foster 9:03 One final chance to solve the problem internally #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

The Cincinnati Bengals have reached the final week of the 2026 NFL preseason, and some incredibly difficult roster decisions are coming before Cincinnati establishes its initial 53-man roster. John Sheeran breaks down the biggest Bengals roster questions entering the preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, including the futures of Jack Endries, Landon Robinson, Jalen Rivers and several players fighting to survive final cuts. One of Cincinnati's most fascinating decisions comes at tight end. The Bengals already have Drew Sample, Mike Gesicki, Erick All Jr. and Tanner Hudson positioned to make the roster. But rookie Jack Endries has shown enough throughout the preseason that Cincinnati could face a major risk by exposing him to waivers. John explains why Endries' combination of youth, receiving upside and development as an inline blocker makes him a player the Bengals should want to keep in the organization long term even if carrying five tight ends creates difficult roster math elsewhere. Then there's the biggest concern on Cincinnati's roster: backup offensive tackle. Cody Ford has been released after entering training camp as one of the primary candidates for the swing-tackle role. Jalen Rivers received an opportunity to take control of the job but struggled against the Chicago Bears, leaving Cincinnati with Rivers, Javon Foster and Andrew Coker among its remaining internal options. John explains why he has very little confidence in the current competition and why the eventual answer at swing tackle may not currently be on the Bengals roster. Could Cincinnati make a trade after final cuts? The Bengals have historically shown a willingness to make player-for-player deals when they can use surplus depth at one position to solve a problem elsewhere. John breaks down which position groups could potentially give Cincinnati that flexibility this year. That brings us to the defensive line. Landon Robinson continues to make an extremely strong case for a roster spot. The rookie has produced six pressures and two sacks across roughly 67 preseason pass-rushing snaps, and John believes exposing a promising young interior pass rusher to waivers would be far too risky. But Cincinnati already has considerable defensive-line depth with players including Dexter Lawrence II, Jonathan Allen, B.J. Hill, T.J. Slaton, Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson. Can the Bengals afford to keep everyone? Could someone become a trade chip? And how much should Cincinnati's defensive scheme influence the number of defensive linemen it keeps? John also discusses why Dohnte Meyers appears to have already secured his roster spot, where Mitchell Tinsley stands in the receiver room and which other roster battles still matter entering Friday night's preseason finale. The Bengals don't have many jobs left completely up for grabs. That makes the few remaining decisions even more important. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, analysis, final roster projections and coverage throughout the 2026 NFL season. 0:00 It's now or never for Bengals roster hopefuls 0:43 Final 53-man roster preview 1:21 Who actually still needs to win a job? 2:23 Bengals face a difficult tight end decision 3:00 Why Jack Endries is worth protecting 4:09 Tanner Hudson isn't going anywhere 4:40 The risk of cutting Endries 5:35 Bengals still have a major OL problem 5:58 Cody Ford is out 6:14 Jalen Rivers hasn't won the job 6:32 Is Cincinnati's swing tackle even on the roster? 7:18 Bengals young interior linemen impress 7:51 Could the Bengals trade for a tackle? 8:48 Defensive line creates another numbers problem 9:06 Landon Robinson has earned a roster spot 10:13 Could a Bengals defensive lineman get traded? 11:16 Where the Bengals roster stands before final cuts #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL John's setup makes the stakes clear: with starters sitting against Philadelphia, the finale becomes an extended audition for players still fighting for the final handful of roster spots. Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

The Cincinnati Bengals defense just delivered its biggest statement of the 2026 preseason. After spending much of training camp making life difficult for Joe Burrow and Cincinnati's offense, the Bengals finally had an opportunity to test their rebuilt defense against another team's starters during Thursday's joint practice with Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears. The results were extremely encouraging. John Sheeran breaks down everything that stood out from Bengals-Bears joint practice, beginning with a Cincinnati defensive front that consistently created problems for Chicago's offense. Myles Murphy had one of his most impressive practices of the summer, generating pressure and multiple would-be sacks against Caleb Williams. The former first-round pick has continued to develop throughout Bengals training camp, and Thursday gave Cincinnati an opportunity to see that progress translate against another NFL offensive line. Cashius Howell also continued what has quickly become one of the most important developments of Bengals training camp. With Shemar Stewart sidelined, Howell has received additional opportunities and continues to take advantage of them. After an impressive preseason debut against Detroit, Howell consistently found his way into Chicago's backfield alongside Murphy. John explains why Cincinnati desperately needs Howell to become a reliable rotational pass rusher behind Murphy and Boye Mafe and why the 23-year-old may be emerging at exactly the right time. Then there's Dexter Lawrence II. Lawrence has spent training camp creating havoc against Cincinnati's offensive line, but Thursday provided a much more meaningful test. He didn't disappoint. The Bengals' star defensive tackle consistently disrupted Chicago's interior offensive line and delivered one of the biggest plays of the practice by getting into Caleb Williams' passing lane, tipping a pass into the air and coming down with the interception himself. John explains why that play represents exactly what Cincinnati has been missing defensively and why Lawrence could completely transform the Bengals defense in 2026. There was plenty to like offensively as well. Tee Higgins reportedly delivered a dominant practice against Chicago's secondary, demonstrating once again how difficult Cincinnati's passing attack becomes when defenses devote extra attention to Ja'Marr Chase. But the biggest story remains Cincinnati's defense. Joe Burrow has preached urgency throughout the offseason. Thursday represented the final opportunity for many Bengals starters to compete against another team before the regular season, and Cincinnati's defensive front responded with one of its most encouraging performances of the summer. Was this the moment the Bengals defense proved the training camp hype might actually be real? John Sheeran breaks it all down. 0:00 Bengals starters face their final major test 1:57 Joe Burrow's urgency is on full display 2:34 Bengals rally around Joe Burrow 3:15 Tee Higgins dominates Bears secondary 4:31 Bengals defense takes over 4:56 Myles Murphy makes a statement 5:35 Cashius Howell keeps emerging 6:28 Why Howell could be crucial 6:56 Dexter Lawrence takes over 7:35 Lawrence makes the play of the day 8:40 The Bengals got exactly what they needed #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

The Cincinnati Bengals just made a surprising change to their offensive line, and what they're doing with Jalen Rivers could reveal a much bigger concern about the team's depth behind starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. John Sheeran breaks down why Rivers has suddenly returned to left tackle after spending much of the offseason and training camp working inside at guard and what the move says about Cincinnati's options behind its starting offensive line. The Bengals entered the 2026 offseason with Cody Ford as their most experienced backup offensive tackle. Cincinnati didn't make a major free-agent addition at the position, and while rookie Brian Parker II played tackle at Duke, the Bengals have primarily developed him along the interior. Then Cincinnati played its first preseason game. Since the Bengals' preseason opener against the Detroit Lions, Rivers has been taking second-team reps at left tackle while Ford has shifted back inside. That's notable because Rivers appeared to have settled into an interior role after struggling at tackle early in his NFL development. John explains why the Bengals' actions now matter much more than what they said months ago. Rivers entered the NFL with experience at both tackle and guard from his college career at Miami. Cincinnati initially tried him on the edge before moving him inside, where he eventually received regular-season opportunities at guard. Now the Bengals are revisiting the possibility that Rivers can provide the swing-tackle depth they still need behind Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims. Could a year of NFL experience make the difference? That's one of the biggest questions Cincinnati needs answered during Thursday's joint practice against the Chicago Bears. Brown also enters the practice with something to prove after a difficult showing in limited action against Detroit. John explains why matchups against Chicago's edge defenders should provide a valuable test for both Cincinnati's starting left tackle and the players competing behind him. The larger concern is roster construction. If the Bengals aren't comfortable with Ford as their primary backup tackle and Rivers ultimately proves better suited to guard, Cincinnati doesn't have an obvious answer waiting behind its starters. And finding a quality offensive tackle after final roster cuts isn't easy. That's why Rivers' move back to tackle matters so much. John Sheeran breaks down what changed, why the Bengals are giving Rivers another opportunity on the edge, what it means for Cody Ford and why Thursday's Bengals-Bears joint practice could provide Cincinnati with much-needed clarity. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, analysis, training camp coverage, roster breakdowns and reaction throughout the 2026 NFL season. 0:00 Bengals prepare for a huge joint practice 1:25 Why Thursday matters so much 1:52 Orlando Brown Jr. has something to prove 3:27 Is Brown the offensive line's weak link? 4:03 Bengals have a backup tackle problem 4:49 Jalen Rivers makes a surprising move 5:10 Why the Bengals changed their plan 6:19 What happened to Cody Ford? 6:56 The move reveals a bigger Bengals problem 7:55 Can Rivers actually play tackle? 8:50 Rivers may be Cincinnati's best option #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

The Cincinnati Bengals defense continues to be one of the biggest stories of training camp, and another strong practice against Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense has created an important question ahead of Thursday's joint practice with the Chicago Bears: Is this defensive improvement for real? John Sheeran breaks down the biggest takeaways from Bengals training camp as Cincinnati prepares for what could be one of its most important practices of the entire 2026 preseason. D.J. Turner continues to lead the way. Turner has consistently made plays throughout Bengals training camp despite ongoing questions surrounding a potential contract extension. John explains why Turner's ability to compete against Ja'Marr Chase and Cincinnati's talented wide receiver room day after day has been one of the most impressive developments of camp and why extending the young cornerback should remain a major priority for the Bengals. Tuesday was another strong day for Cincinnati's secondary and defensive front. Joe Burrow connected frequently with Ja'Marr Chase, but the Bengals offense struggled to consistently generate production elsewhere. Tight coverage from the secondary combined with pressure from a defensive front featuring Dexter Lawrence II, Jonathan Allen and Kris Jenkins Jr. continued a theme we've seen throughout training camp: Cincinnati's defense is making things difficult for its own offense. Boye Mafe also delivered another encouraging moment, and John explains why there's an overlooked part of Mafe's game Bengals fans shouldn't ignore. Mafe was brought to Cincinnati in part to help replace the pass-rushing production lost with Trey Hendrickson, but his ability as a run defender could become just as important. John explains why Mafe's ability to set the edge, shed blocks and make plays against the run could give Cincinnati something different at the position in 2026. There were encouraging developments deeper on the roster as well. Dohnte Meyers continues to make plays with the second-team offense, while Josh Newton recorded an interception and continues fighting to stay alive in Cincinnati's crowded cornerback competition. There are still legitimate questions about the Bengals offense, particularly the offensive line, running game and Cincinnati's ability to close games with its four-minute offense. That's what makes Thursday's Bengals-Bears joint practice so important. Instead of measuring Cincinnati's defense against Joe Burrow and its own offense again, the Bengals will finally get an opportunity to test the unit against Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson and Chicago's offense. If Cincinnati's defense continues creating pressure, covering receivers and controlling the run against another team's starters, the conversation surrounding this Bengals defense could begin to change significantly. John Sheeran breaks down everything you need to know before Bengals vs. Bears. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, training camp analysis, roster breakdowns and coverage throughout the 2026 NFL season. 0:00 Bengals enter a huge week 0:22 Why Bears joint practice matters 2:03 D.J. Turner keeps dominating 3:28 Bengals defense wins another practice 4:32 Dohnte Meyers keeps making plays 5:04 Don't overlook Boye Mafe 6:32 Josh Newton isn't going away 7:41 Concerns about the Bengals offense 8:25 The Bears will provide the real test #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFLPlay A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

The Cincinnati Bengals' first preseason game revealed much more about the team's real roster hierarchy than the first official depth chart did, and four players may have significantly improved their chances of making Cincinnati's final 53-man roster. John Sheeran breaks down four Bengals who are making a legitimate late push for roster spots after training camp and Cincinnati's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions: Jacob Bayer, Swayze Bozeman, Kendall Milton and Russ Yeast. Jacob Bayer has quietly spent much of the offseason working as the Bengals' backup center, and his usage against Detroit reinforced that standing. Despite rookie Connor Lew being listed ahead of him on Cincinnati's initial depth chart, Bayer was the first center off the bench. He later moved to left guard when Brian Parker II took over at center, showing the positional versatility that could become extremely valuable when the Bengals make their final offensive line decisions. Could Bayer even threaten the roster spots of Cody Ford or Jalen Rivers? John explains why he currently considers Bayer one of Cincinnati's 10 best offensive linemen. At linebacker, Swayze Bozeman may be much closer to the roster than the Bengals' official depth chart suggested. Bozeman worked with Cincinnati's second-team defense against Detroit and has special teams experience that could help separate him in a crowded competition. John explains why Bozeman now makes his latest 53-man roster projection. Kendall Milton may have created the most interesting competition of the four. The former Georgia running back finished with only 21 yards on 10 carries against Detroit, but the box score doesn't tell the entire story. Milton forced missed tackles, created yards after contact and received more opportunities than the Bengals' other reserve running backs. Has Milton done enough to legitimately challenge Tahj Brooks for a roster spot behind Chase Brown? Finally, Russ Yeast made one of the biggest plays of Cincinnati's preseason opener with a late interception against Detroit. Yeast still faces a difficult battle in a Bengals safety room that includes Brian Cook, Jordan Battle, Kyle Dugger and P.J. Jules, but his previous NFL experience and defensive ability could make the final safety competition worth watching over Cincinnati's final two preseason games. The Bengals have less than two weeks before the NFL's final roster cutdown, and these four players suddenly have a much more realistic opportunity than they appeared to have entering training camp. John Sheeran breaks down what changed, who they're competing against and what each player must do over the final two preseason games to make Cincinnati's 53-man roster. A to Z Sports Cincinnati brings Bengals fans year-round analysis, opinions, roster breakdowns, training camp coverage and reaction throughout the 2026 NFL season. Subscribe for more Cincinnati Bengals coverage as the preseason continues and the final 53-man roster takes shape. 0:00 The Bengals' depth chart isn't telling the whole story 1:17 What actually reveals the 53-man roster 1:41 Four Bengals making a roster push 1:58 Jacob Bayer 4:30 Swayze Bozeman 6:32 Kendall Milton 8:43 Russ Yeast 10:32 Bengals roster cutdown is coming #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball

The Cincinnati Bengals open the 2026 preseason against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night, and while Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and the Bengals' stars will get plenty of attention, some of the most important performances could come after the starters leave the field. John Sheeran breaks down five Bengals players he'll be watching closely against Detroit, starting with one of the biggest surprises of Cincinnati Bengals training camp: wide receiver Dohnte Meyers. Meyers has continued to make plays throughout camp after taking an unconventional path to Cincinnati through the CFL. Now comes the real test. Can he translate that training camp momentum into preseason production and make a legitimate push for one of the Bengals' final wide receiver spots? Rookie tight end Jack Endries is another player with plenty at stake. Cincinnati has a crowded tight end room, and Endries hasn't generated the same training camp buzz as some other Bengals rookies. His versatility, blocking ability and similarities to Erick All Jr.'s role could still give him a path to the roster, but the preseason represents a major opportunity to prove his value. John also takes a closer look at rookie offensive lineman Brian Parker II. The sixth-round pick has worked at multiple positions during Bengals training camp, including both guard spots, and Thursday will give us our best opportunity yet to evaluate how the former Duke offensive lineman handles NFL competition. Then there's Kris Jenkins Jr. Entering his third NFL season, Jenkins has received opportunities with Cincinnati's first-team defensive line during training camp. With the Bengals adding Dexter Lawrence II and Jonathan Allen this offseason, John explains why it's time to see whether Jenkins can take the developmental leap Cincinnati has been waiting for. Finally, Josh Newton enters the preseason facing legitimate roster pressure. After getting an opportunity with the first-team defense this week and making plays against Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, can Newton carry that momentum into Thursday night's game? With a crowded Bengals cornerback room, his preseason performance could determine whether he remains in Cincinnati. John Sheeran breaks down all five players, what they need to show against the Lions and why the most interesting part of the Bengals' preseason opener might begin after the biggest stars leave the field. 0:00 Bengals vs. Lions preseason opener 1:05 Why the backups matter most 1:59 Dohnte Meyers 3:44 Jack Endries 5:43 Brian Parker II 6:58 Kris Jenkins Jr. 8:54 Josh Newton 10:05 Bengals-Lions game preview A to Z Sports Cincinnati brings Bengals fans analysis, opinions, roster breakdowns, training camp coverage and reaction throughout the 2026 NFL season. Subscribe for more Cincinnati Bengals coverage and join us after Thursday night's preseason opener for immediate Bengals-Lions reaction and takeaways. #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #NFL #WhoDey Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more Bengals coverage: Facebook: Twitter/X: Instagram: TikTok: #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball