Cincinnati Bengals: Position battles to watch in preseason finale

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The Cincinnati Bengals have one last test for players battling for backup roles this season before final roster decisions must be made.

Cincinnati travels to Philadelphia to play the Eagles in the preseason finale on Friday, Aug. 28, and starters will once again sit while those fighting for roster spots and specific roles have one last chance to make their case.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor said no one should be comfortable this last week because there is competition “all over” the roster. Tough decisions could loom around the defensive line and wide receiver room, especially, where some of the more intriguing battles have taken place this training camp.

Here are some of the battles to watch:

1. Wide receiver/return specialist

Former CFL standout Dohnte Meyers has impressed, and the Bengals gave him a more extensive look on returns in the second preseason game. The splash plays on offense might be enough to push Charlie Jones out of a job if special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons thinks he can provide the same or better explosiveness in the return game.

Meyers could make a tough decision easier with another strong showing Friday.

Add Meyers into the mix with rookie Colbie Young and Mitch Tinsley, behind Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas, and the wide receiver room is looking pretty deep.

2. Defensive line

The additions of Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen to the interior defensive line pushed everyone back one level on the depth chart, creating stiff competition for the last spots. Landon Robinson, who had 1.5 sacks last week against the Bears, is pushing for a job, and the Bengals could have tough decisions to make regarding how many edge rushers and interior D-linemen to keep.

Among the others to watch will be defensive ends Cedric Johnson and Isaiah Foskey and defensive tackles Kris Jenkins, McKinnley Jackson and Jordan Jefferson. Jenkins is likely a keeper but still needs to show consistency.

Shemar Stewart has not returned to practice yet, so the Bengals might need to go with an extra edge rusher to get through the beginning of the season.

3. Linebacker

The top three linebackers are locked in with Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. returning to starting roles and veteran Oren Burks Jr. the next one in, but the fourth spot has been up for grabs.

Joe Giles-Harris came into camp with a leg up based on his experience in the system, after playing in 10 games last year. However, Swayze Bozeman, acquired on waivers in May, had a strong camp and stood out in the first two preseason games. He’s consistently earned reps with the second-string defense. Liam Anderson also had a strong showing against the Bears, and Shaka Heyward and Eric Gentry have also been in the mix.

4. Swing tackle

The Bengals might need to go outside the current roster for their swing tackle, but Jalen Rivers and Javon Foster are battling for that spot after the departure of Cody Ford this week.

They’ll need a strong showing Friday. Rivers’ versatility makes him a near lock for the roster, while Foster is working to earn a spot after getting cut at the end of preseason last year with Jacksonville. A 2024 fourth-round pick of the Jaguars, Foster was signed to the Bengals’ practice squad the next day but did not play a game and his four appearances with Jacksonville were on special teams.

Rivers, a 2025 fifth-round draft pick, started camp at guard and has been switching between left and right tackle. He was a guard at the start of his college career at the University of Miami, then finished at left tackle but even then he was moving back and forth to left guard within each series.

5. Cornerbacks

Cornerbacks Josh Newton and Bralyn Lux have shown flashes, but will it be enough for either one to make the roster? Newton seemed to get lost behind DJ Ivey’s emergence this camp, and Lux was getting looks in the slot, but the Bengals have consistently put Ja’Sir Taylor in with the second-string defense and the starters when Jalen Davis was out.

The Bengals might be weighing whether to keep six or seven corners. That case can be made for an extra one Friday.

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