Bengals 53-Man Roster Projection: Last In, Last Out at Every Spot on the Bengals Depth Chart

welcome into the pfn Bengals podcast I am Dallas Robinson he is Jay Morrison Jay we've got the final Bengals preseason game coming up here later this week we're going to go into our 53 man roster projection here in a little bit and talk who's last in who's last out at every spot on this roster but I think before we get into that Jay we've got to talk about the joint practice the Bengals conducted with Indianapolis Colts you were there you were on the scene what did you see between the Bengals the Colts that you love that you didn't like what what were your main takeaways from The Joint practice this week yeah it was I mean my main takeaway it it was really well behaved there there was not a lot of I mean there was some chirping going on but it never really got physical at least you know I there was two Fields I I watched the de the Bengals defense against the Colts offense I think everybody else in Cincinnati was watching Joe burrow against the Colts defense I've seen enough of Joe burrow I know where this thing stands he's he looks great so I wanted to watch the defense and I was interested in Anthony Richardson too and um so I was over there and um that was my other takeaway is that you know yes Anthony Richardson is he's got four games under his belt he's he's still got some growing to do Bengals defense just looks great um they're ready for this season and and you know Dax Hill this is his job it's clear you know even though DJ Turner started that game against the Buccaneers the long run that Dax got and how well Dax performed in that game I think that was kind of the turning point and we've ever since then practice preseason game joint practice whatever it's been it's been Dax Hill running with the ones and the rotation is gone DJ Turner has not been in there with the ons and sometimes in the dime package when they bring in five defensive backs he's in there um but yeah this is that and it was another good day for Dax yesterday he had the the last play in 11s uh before they did the real quick one-on-one drill or the one minute drill he had a pass Break Up In The End Zone um on a pass from Anthony Richardson and then early in practice Anthony Richardson was really going after him and and his his Anthony Richardson's first three in completions were uh targeted towards Dax Hill he had the coverage he had one where he gave up the catch technically on the sideline but there was officials at practice they ruled the receiver out of bounds so it it was another pass was a pass defense he didn't get his hands on the ball but it was another not incomplete pass that in dax's Direction so he looks good Von Bell I think looked like he's found the Fountain of Youth I was kind of wondering if you know he was just kind of a placeholder and he was going to get everybody settled and then Jordan battle was going to take over the spot I think Von Bell's he's gonna have a lot to say about holding off Jordan battle this year he he looks really strong and good and BJ Hill um just in the middle and he took exception when I asked him about people think of him as a pass rusher as he' been working on his run defe defense and he's like I don't understand why people don't think I can defend the run and and he did it again the last two days he's been very active in the back field and stop and run so just a lot to like about what you've seen from this defense and and I guess you know we should mention that the the one thing that you didn't like was seeing miles Murphy go down um but it sounds like it's not serious I it kind of looked like it wasn't serious uh when they let him kind of Limp off the field and go the cart was way at the other end and he walked over there it was usually if it's a a really bad injury the comes onto the field picks you up and takes you off so just letting him kind of walk it off a little bit gave you the sense that maybe it wasn't that serious yeah and we've got reports from James shine and from Mike rlo at NFL Network that it's not very serious that Miles Murphy is thankfully just gonna miss a couple of weeks it sounds like miles Murphy's brother Max tweeted out that he has a sprained MCL take that with a grain of salt obviously but it but it seemed that good news is that it seems like it's not going to be a longlasting injury for Miles Murphy on the defense I think it's it's very good news to hear I think especially after the second team defense played so well for the most part against the Bears in the preseason game I think not just the Topline starters but the depth pieces that you're feeling much better about than L anarumo probably felt when he looked at this roster last year when they were giving up explosive plays and giving up constant yardage in the Run game I think at almost every level you feel better about the depth Dax Hill man it's just it's incredibly incredibly impressive I think what he's done over this summer to go from a guy who's playing you know slot corner and safety in college transitioning into the NFL not playing at all during his rookie year position switch in year two and another position switch in year three to play outside corner a position he's never really played at any level for any amount of time it's it's an incredibly impressive I think summmer for him to come in and grab that job from DJ Turner who was the incumbent coming into training camp it's I don't think you can say enough about what DX sell has done but also you feel good about having DJ Turner is that quarterback sl4 who can come in if there's an injury somewhere else so I think from that perspective top to bottom you just you feel much better about where this defense stands than you did at the end of last season yeah and just you know the the communication aspect of it you hear them in a in a practice talking and getting guys aligned and it it's it was chaotic last year in training camp there's no other way around it and this year it's not there's there might be a single thing said you know outside the Hub to get somebody lined up or shifted a little bit but um they're doing a lot of just different interesting things and there was a play Yesterday where where Dax Hill and Von Bell switched and Von came up on the line of scrimmage and was guarding a receiver and Dax dropped all the way back and was part of a two high safety with Gino Stone and just that kind of flexibility and everybody understanding even you know the rookies Josh Newton and dejon Anthony feel comfortable they they they feel like they know what this defense is and this scheme is and that think a lot of that is Von Bell um you know being that coach on the field and just bringing the stability back to this defense so you get that back end of it settled that changes everything right there and then you know if you can you can get miles Murphy back and and Joseph osai and beat you know really quality backup Edge rushers and now Sheldon rankins and BJ Hill and you get the push up the middle just pairing that that that rushan cover aspect of Defense um I do I I think this this defense is in for a considerable leap this year in their rankings like that communication was so key back when Jessie Bates and Von Bell were starting in the back end for Lou a couple years ago and it's I don't know that they'll get back to that point with Gino Stone and Von Bell but I think it'll be closer than it was last season with with Nick Scott and Dax Hill playing in the back and we know L aruma likes to play all sorts of coverages and just like you mentioned with that play there do all sorts of creative and flexible things you've got to have guys with the experience and the talent to do to do both of those things I think they're much closer now with Von Bell with Gino Stone than they were last year with Nick Scott and the other in the other groups they had playing safety it's it's much better from that perspective um Jay anything else from yesterday's joint practice that you noticed before we kind of dive into our projections here anything else on I know you're watching mostly the defensive side of the ball anybody else that stood out to you from yesterday's practice before we get into our projections well I'm gonna say this tongue and cheek but uh maybe the money's getting Dean mcferson um it you know the report came out last week and it it they they finished both these joint practices with a with with a one minute drill and in in Chicago in the rain they drive in Logan Woodside drives the twos into field goal position and Evan mcson comes out and tries like a 55 Yard hits the upright no good uh yesterday I I've not seen him miss one this I don't know if it was an issue with the hold or what it was but he hooked it way left um so it was just it's funny you know that guy's going to be fine but it was it's just jarring to see a Miss like that and then the uh the Colts did the same thing they moved right down the field got in field goal range and their kicker missed it um so maybe just it was windy yesterday but One Missed left one missed right so I don't know if you can blame that on the wind or not um but it was it was just an interesting way to to end both of the these last two joint practices for the Bengals offense and special teams Matt gay the Colts kicker he's a very highly paid kicker too so it's maybe it's you know the moneyy is getting to these guys who knows um okay we're going to dive into our 53 man roster projection here uh the way we're going to do is is just go position by position talk about our locks and then talk about the last guy in and the last guy out at each spot it's Jay I don't know about you but like I I had a decent amount of locks you know it's those last few spots I think that are that are really really challenging to kind of identify who's going to make this roster um but overall takeaways as you were going through this this depth chart that the Bengals have for me it's I kind of mentioned with the defense but just improveed depth everywhere I I really do feel like they have they've gotten younger and have more depth options at several different positions than they did last year I think we'll talk about that when we get to the offensive line especially that there's just some younger interesting options I think on this roster than they had last year that are they're going to play maybe a significant amount of snaps and hope this roster help this roster get a little more explosive a little more deep at certain areas yeah it's interesting because you know you talk about the depth and I agree with you it's it's it's good um but then also the reason that there are so many locks when you look at this 53 man roster is you know spot 54 down to what are they at 80 the roster at 86 now there's there's not a lot of competition there this does feel like a very cut and dry 53 man roster there's a couple spots that you you could see going one way or another and then the the ripple effect where if they if they go heavy at one spot which which spot do they go light at um but I I do think that this team is poised to to to you know be able to handle any injury that might come along you know as long as not a season Ender they've got the depth pieces in place they've got guys you look at that linebacker room and how long all those guys have been around um it's just uh they they've built a nice roster that said a lot a lot of those rookies are going to make this team and you just don't see that you know seventh rounders sixth rounders fifth rounders Josh Newton I mean those guys are pretty close to Locks it's it it was they had a great draft they had a great off season with all the free agent pieces they brought in um I I think they are positioned really really well and then you know you got the wild card out there Jamar Chase expect him to play expect him to be there for the opener but again that just the overall depth from one to 53 this team Stacks up really well you got the top end Talent you've got the depth you've got the continuity no excuses this year not to make a run let's start with quarterback you know I think the skill positions on this team are fairly easy to determine a quarterback it's it's pretty easy it's Joe burrow it's Jake Browning I guess the only question here is Jake Browning's rib issue right and H does that linger does that linger into the regular season I guess there's a possibility where they could put Browning on ir and keep Logan Woodside as their second quarterback for for four games but I don't know that's that's totally speculation I think if anything they could maybe use Woodside as their backup quarterback like from the practice squad if they had to for a couple games promote him for a couple games while Browning is on the roster kind of recovering but for now I I think I'm expecting Browning to be back by week one and and kind of assume his usual backup quarterback spot behind Joe burrow yeah I asked Zach about this the other day and he said if you know if if it was an important game that that meant something to their season that absolutely Browning could go out there and play but he said it's also a case where this is an injury where the best thing for it is is rest and that's the tack they're going to take so you know I I I fully expect him to be on the 53 there's no restrictions in practice so even if they want to keep Browning on the sideline in practice when the regular season gets here to to further rest that rib injury then Logan Woodside can take all the second team reps and there's not a lot of those once you get into the regular season anyhow so yeah this one is this is pretty cut and dry um maybe the one of the two most cut and dry positions on the team uh running back who who do you have making the team here I feel like this one's basically cut and dry as well it is it I mean you know Zach Moss Chase Brown trayan Williams I don't I don't even know because you know we were going to talk about here where what's that what's the last position in each group and and what's that battle it's like I don't even know who it would would it be Noah Kan or would it be Elijah Collins Against trayon I I it's just I think it's moot we we have barely seen and Collins they none of those guys have even kind of moved up into to second team reps and and part of that comes from the fact that you've got a onea and a 1B in Moss and brown and they've gotten tray on a lot of work so um I I don't I would imagine they'll keep at least one of them on the practice squad but this is another position this is the you know the position I was looking at next to quarterback where it's just totally cut and dry we know what this is going to look like moss Brown and Williams are all going to be on the 53 and then the other two guys we'll see if they come back one or both on the practice squad any chance they try and pick up somebody off waivers or a free agent do you think to replace Williams I mean we've mentioned Sam p r a million times on the show I think he'll be cut by Denver other guys I think that could be cut is real obonda from the Jets Michael Carter from the Cardinals Isaiah Spiller from the Chargers these guys are like mid-round picks in the past couple drafts that have a little bit of experience I do wonder if the Bengals will be in a market for an alternate third running back at cutdowns but they know trayon they like trayon they obviously have a role for trayon and they like what he can do you know on special teams and as a backup third down back it's familiarity at this point at this time of year right for a third down back I'm not sure if you want to bring somebody else in who doesn't know the system that's why perine I think is maybe that one possibility who's still out there that could be a fit but I'm right there with you brown moss Williams it it looks like that's the group for week one yeah even if they went got a perine then the corresponding move may not be trayan Williams probably wouldn't be trayon Williams it would go light somewhere else I I think trayon is is safe he's he's going to be one of the two kick returners it looks like and and so you know that and just that like you said the familiarity and he does have a third down role you I think that'll be reduced this year with Chase brown but but yeah I'd be surprised if if he's not on this team all year wide receiver another one that's fairly cut and dry I would say Jamar Chase T Higgins Andre yosias Trent nwin Germaine Burton Charlie Jones that's that's my six um let is that your six as well I'm assuming that we're six for six on that unless there's a CH a surprising change from you Jay no that that is my six that I think the surprise here is if if I'm saying the final spot I think it's Jermaine Burton Burton versus Kendrick prior it's not really a battle They're Gonna Keep buron he's a third round pick but he's you know we're just not seeing him um get any first team reps and and he's really kind of slid down the depth chart there and now Charlie Jones is back and participating in in team drift and and Trenton Irwin has has been reliable this whole time here so I think Burton's that wide receiver six right now um and I don't I Kendrick prior hurt his finger he hasn't practiced the last two days he's no real threat to beat him out for that final spot but I I do think it's notable that that Burton we had talked about earlyer maybe being wide receiver three and I've got him at wide receiver six right now no I've got him there as well and and maybe we'll see you know continuing with the return game like he did on FTS and kicks I think that's a way that you can get the ball in his hands but I agree with you I I think if if anything we're going to see a wide receiver 3 rotation between yosias and Irwin and maybe some of the tight ends but seems like Burton is pretty far down the depth chart there um what what is your most recent take Jay on the Jamar Chase situation like where where do we stand with this is this going to be a situation where he just suits up for week one and we pretend like this never happened I mean that's kind of where I'm leaning at this point I I understand where he's coming from and wanting a new contract but other guys entering year four at wide receiver have typically waited until the following off season before they've got an extension we've gone through all the kind of Ripple effects of the Justin Jefferson extension and where that leaves Jamar Chase how do you see these next few weeks playing out before the regular season like with Jamar Chase what what do you think is gonna happen yeah he's gonna come back to practice at some point I would think probably that you know not next week but the week the following week after Labor Day that that the game week for the Patriots there's just I think you know part of it is him making a statement right now and he's not happy I think part of it is just protecting his body and not taking any risk on getting injured but you think about it you know last year when when burrow went through this not a peep coming from either camp and you know they they they knew it was going to get done and there was kind of an agreement on both sides it's been the same with Chase you look at these other receivers you know CD lamb and and Brandon auk and they're voicing their displeasure and and Chase hasn't done that it's not got to that public sparring yet it just feels like this is all kind of an orchestrated thing where you know even even Zach being unwilling to talk about it you would think at some point some frustration you he would even say something you know look obviously we're better with Jamar practicing but he's not practicing right now but he's he's refused to address it at all really and it just it just feels like you know let Jamar do his thing make his statement protect his body whatever it is um but when it comes time to play games he's going to be out there he's he's got nothing to gain by sitting out because first of all it's hard it's hard enough to to win a staring contest with Mike Brown second of all you look at the way that schedule lines up they're gonna go three and one even if Jamar Chase doesn't play you would think and so all of a sudden you sit out two four games whatever it is and the team doesn't suffer you lose more leverage there and just the lack of Leverage he has anyhow with it with it being with him having two years left on the deal I just again I think it's a he he's he's putting a statement out it's kind of like the Trey Hendrickson trade request it wasn't a really serious thing he's just putting it out there letting people know that he feels like he's underpaid Jamar wants people to know that he feels like he's underpaid he's gonna get paid it's just gonna be next year I yeah personally I don't have like a huge problem with it I think if if a superstar wants to protect his body and get ready for the regular season like I I have faith that Jamar Chase knows what he needs to do to get ready for week one you hear that all the time with like the San Francisco 49ers we just mentioned with auk they're not that worried about a guy like Trent Williams sitting out you know multiple weeks like they know he's gonna be ready with these Superstar players you know they're going to be ready and it feels to me like there's maybe an unspoken agreement right between Zack Taylor and Jamar Chase like that that's that's fine you don't want to practice that's fine you're here you're showing up you're in the meetings that's fine as long as you're ready for week one then then we're good and that again I I don't see a huge problem with that you're right it hasn't gotten out of hand like the CD situation like the iuk situation it's it's all being kind of handled in house which is a lot of how the Bengals like to do their business so I'm right there with you I'd be surprised if we're still talking about this by the time week one rolls around um let's move on to tight end I've got four tight ends here now I know that I'm leaving off a certain rookie here and we can get into this but I'm I'm keeping Mike giki Drew sample Tanner Hudson Eric all I do think Tanner mcclocklin is right there in the mix if the Bengals want to keep five tight ends um I I just not sure not sure if they're going to based on what they've done with their roster in the past how many tight ends they've kept I don't think they've ever kept five tight ends Jay at least based on the spreadsheet that you keep with rosters yearby year I mean I've see a couple years with four um but even that was at the beginning of the the Zack Taylor tenure I I don't think they've ever kept five tight ends so I think with that history in mind I think the Bengals will wave Tanner mcclin hope he Hope by all hope that he gets through to the practice squad and they'll go with that group of four that I mentioned yeah uh 2017 they kept four tight ends and then Ryan hwit was listed as a fullback he was he kind of a tight end SL fullback so that was as close as they came but I'm with you it's gonna be four um where that I've seen movement here is I've got Eric all at tight end three now and Tanner Hudson tight end four so that's where the battle would be Tanner Hudson versus Tanner mclin but you know you look at these guys giki is he basically a slot receiver he is uh not a known blocking tight end Drew sample is the opposite he is he's here as a blocker he is not a real threat as a pass catcher Tanner Hudson is in the giki mode he's he's Dynamic he catches ball he's not a great blocker Eric all can do it both do it and we've seen it and they're they're working him more and more into the plan as he's got come back from the ACL injury he's taking a lot of first team reps and he's in there on on blocking plays they're running a lot more 12 Personnel um I just I I really think they like who he is as a blocker and then that Dynamic where you line up in 12 and the defense gets in base and is expecting a run and then all of a sudden you can run Eric all up the seam and maybe exploit that so um I see him ticking up the depth chart the the rookie from my alma modder Fairfield OH High hi so I now I just screwed up my own Alma moer come on Fairfield High School we'll edit that out later yeah we gota we'll edit that in post no I agree like and the thing is Mike aiki I think is gonna have a real role this year I'm a huge fan of Tanner Hudson but these guys are on one-year deals like I think Eric all will continue to move up that depb chart and then 2025 I mean there's no reason he cannot be the tight end one on this roster and be a significant part of what this passing offense looks like next year I'm right there with you I'm we'll probably get into it in future shows but I'm just so curious about the differences that this offense is going to have next year and whether it does have more 12 personnel and different Personnel groupings and more under Center and I think Eric all is going to be a big part of what those formational alignments and those different looks look like I really do so I think he's like a key piece of what this roster looks like going forward um offensive line Jay what do you have here sometimes the Bengals keep nine sometimes they keep 10 we've got you know the amarius Mims pectoral injury to to discuss and how that factors into the rotation who do you have for offensive line on this 53 man roster projection yeah I've got nine so I I've got the uh the five starters at the moment with with Orlando Brown Trent Brown COV Olson Alex Kappa Ted Carris obviously Mims and then the backups I've got Cody Ford Jackson Kirkland and Matt Lee and I think that that's that is the final spot the final battle Matt Lee versus Trey Hill and just as is the case with Dax hill we we've seen the proof I mean Matt Lee played the entire game at Center against Chicago and and he has replaced Trey Hill as the the number two Center in practice and Tre Hill has moved over to guard if they go 10 then then I think you know maybe Trey Hill does make it um but I I think we've seen the last of Jackson Carmen well I shouldn't say the last because they could bring him back on the practice squad but his his reps have dwindled to next to nothing um I think that speaks volumes um and yeah they' like what they've seen from at Lee so I I do I think he's nudged ahead of Trey Hill as that backup center to Ted Carris and I think going nine here you have Cody Ford's versatility as tackle guard Jackson Kirkland has been working he played tackle in college he's been playing tackle and guard now in Camp for the last couple weeks so I think that allows you to go that versatility allows you to go lighter here and keep an extra defensive back I've got the same nine as you um so we've got the same exact offense jection then I think we've got the same exact group here um I think the Bengals you know starting Jackson Kirkland at left tackle they were trying to tell us something in the preseason game that he is there going to be one of their top options I'm with you on Jackson Carmen you know I wanted to hold that hope that he could potentially make this roster but it's just been so bad the signs are all there I I I think if the Bengals cut Jackson Carmen I actually don't think he'll come back on the practice squad not because the Bengals wouldn't want him to but I don't think he would want to I think if you're a second round pick who's kind of I don't want to say like been treated poorly because it's mostly based on his performance but who's been through what he's been through with the Bengals the position switch the struggles the the benchings the kind of embarr I think that's where you kind of maybe want to get a fresh start so I would think that he would not come back to to this practice squad um yeah I'm right there with you I think the Mims injury makes things a little bit interesting right how we don't know exactly how long he's going to be out but but I'm with you that I think that that probably does push Trent Brown into the starting lineup at right tackle that if M as good as Mims has looked in practice and training camp and you know I I think that he'd be fine as the starting right tackle but if he's going to miss this this time here right before the season I think going with a veteran who started what close to a 100 games in Trent Brown is probably the way the Bengals are going to go and then yeah Matt Lee I think he's just shown at every turn that he deserves to make this roster over Trey Hill I don't I don't know what argument you can make for Trey Hill that doesn't just go with experience right that he has more time on the team everything else gives you to Matt Lee Ted Caris said he'd be happy if he was a Bengals fan to have a guy like Matt Lee in the pipeline right I think this is your future Center um I might even put Nate Gilliam ahead of Trey Hill honestly I think Nate gilam has has shown a little bit he got the start last week Trey Hill had what two did he have two or three penalties I can't remember I can't remember and Carman had three the week before right so it's like the double trifect of there um if anything if the Bengals want to add another offensive lineman if something happens with Mims if he's if he's injured if they don't feel good about their depth the only guy out there really is Dennis Daly just got cut by the Cardinals he's a veteran he's got 37 career starts I wonder if Bengals want a little more depth a little more versatility he can play guard too but I but I think that these are the nine these are the nine that I have as well and you maybe you try and sneak Trey Hilla and Nate gilam onto the practice squad then you've got a little more interior depth you try and sneak Devin Cochran you got a little more tackle depth but but I agree with you I think these are the nine that they're going to roll with yeah and it's a good point about Carmen because Frank poock mentioned that last week when we talked to him where you know he's going through some things and it's tough to be a high high pick and a HomeTown kid and I I think a fresh start would do him good for him uh maybe it lights of fire under him you see this is my last shot um and I just I do I I think four years the Bengals have seen enough I they might be interested bring him back on the practice squad just because he knows the system and and he's been here but uh I think it's a good point that you make where that if they cut him from the 53 which we expect him to do he may just uh look for options on a practice squad elsewhere let's go to defense uh defensive line for I've got 10 guys I've got five Edge five defensive tackles Edge guys I've got Hendrickson hubard Murphy Assuming he's okay osai and then the rookie Cedric Johnson now that Jeff Gunter has retired defensive tackle rankins Hill Jenkins and Jackson the two rookies and then I've got Zack Carter still making the team yeah I I think he's done enough through these couple preseason games you know I I I think he's the last guy to make it last guy off I think would be J2 f for me um after that I'm not sure if a lot of the other guys really have a have a good chance at making this roster um I think for me to F just having been here knows the system flashed a little bit last season I think on the interior but I think a former third- round pick like Zack Carter is going to make the rosty you're not cutting two rookies so I I think if you're going with 10 those are the guys I'm projecting yeah I had it I had that last spot down to to Cedric Johnson and Jay TF mainly because not so much that tf's been here and knows the scheme but you don't have a true nose guard a true run stopper with McKinley Jackson hurt and we don't know how long that injury is GNA be and T had a sack yesterday it was it was with the threes but um yeah he he's he missed some time in Camp he missed a little more than two weeks but he's back now and and they've just they they I've had multiple coaches refer to him as just a gamer and you know he doesn't always show up in practice but he makes plays in games when he's called on they trust him and just being in that position as a guy that that they don't have that similar nose tackle I do I think there's a shot they could go with him and roll the dice that Cedric Johnson could could make it back through to the the practice squad the other issue there is you know maybe they put mckenley Jackson on IR there's new rules now and you can put two guys on ir and still before the 53 and then still be able to bring them back at some point during the season and McKinley Jackson would be a prime candidate for that and then maybe you can keep Johnson and TF but you know as it's if we take the IR uh variable out of the mix then um I've still got it with Cedric Johnson but I think there's a real shot that they could go TF because they need that big body in the middle I think that's a really good point that Jackson could go eye on on ir and just stash him for a little bit you know he it's it's not like he's probably going to see a huge amount of snaps from the get-go even if he's fully healthy you know he's the fourth fifth defensive tackle so I think if if he's dealing with that injury still first year in the NFL get him a little bit of time to recover and then maybe come back week five or something like that I think that makes a lot of sense I really do if they want to keep to fail okay give me your linebacker group I think we know the top three for sure who who do you have depth pieces at linebacker yeah the four longers Logan Wilson Germaine Pratt Joe bot and and AEM Davis Gaither um for the fifth spot I've got m J meta he's just he he's been so impressive and he's undeniable that that that last spot between him and Devon Harper I I've been leaning Harper all along just because of the trust Daren Simmons has in him on special teams but we' we've seen them put Muma in and um played quite a bit on special teams against the Bears I I caught up with him in the the locker room the other day and I said how much special teams did you play at Wisconsin he said none so this is all so new to him and he's still holding his own and and he's just he's a really impressive guy to talk to um when I talked to the linebackers coach James beter he was just he's like if we're going to talk about him we have to start with his preparation and he's like it's just it's so impressive for a young guy the way he's approached us and and Muma said yeah that was something he didn't have in college either he just relied totally on athleticism and and he's kind of learned to move into this role so I this is a guy's he's been impressive and he just seems like he's ascending in in all the right areas and I think think I think we're gonna see it I think we're gonna see the undrafted kid make the 53 I mean how could he not at this point I mean he has to I I I agree that Devon Harper's got the experience but Jang meta has been so impressed just the tenacity he plays with right I I think you you love that on special teams as a backup linebacker you I've been Robert Mays from the athletic has talked about on his training camp tours that the number one thing he's heard from defensive coaches is not so much scheme changes but like what what does it feel like when we play on defense what what the and the effort level we bring I don't J meta is obviously not going to be a starter on defense but I do think the Bengals could use a little more of that fire on defense right a little more of that aggression that attitude on defense Jong meta is you know not going to be in the starting lineup he's going to be a depth piece he'll be on special teams but gotta love that attitude I think from a rookie that that fire that he plays with sometimes I think in the preseason it's come back to hurt him right when he's trying to catch guys in space or something like that he's not the fastest in space but moving downhill that that's a guy that I like at linebacker a lot I think that that's the type of guy Darren Simmons wants playing on special teams yeah I mean that same grit and and fierceness that plays on special teams too it doesn't just play on defense I I do I I think he will have a role there uh let's go to quarterback um I have six quarterbacks making the roster cam Taylor Brit Dax hell Mike hton as you're starting niichel package DJ trer and Josh Newton is your start or backup outside corners and I've got jayen Davis making in the roster um you know I just I'm not sure who else the Bengals would be comfortable with as their backup slot Corner if something happened to Mike Hilton now Mike Hilton getting a little older you don't never want to project in injuries but you want to have depth at that spot would they trust DJ Turner in the in the nickel maybe could Josh Newton play the nickel maybe but we know Jaylen Davis has played in there we know he can handle the interior it was one of the toughest decisions and and I think we'll get into it when we get into safety on on where these last few spots came in but I I do think the Bengals will want someone they can count on to play behind Hilton and if they're not sure Turner or Newton can do that then then I have Davis making the the roster as the sixth quarterback yeah I haven't making it too but I it's more on special teams that I did it the last few the last few practices they've they've had Josh Newton in the slot with the twos and they put Jaylen Davis out wide I don't know if it's just trying to get the rookie some reps in there or if they see him as a better fit as a slot than Jaylen Davis at this point but but Jaylen Davis played a lot of special teams last year and he's he's the Vice on on punt return he's been a gunner before on punt coverage you know last year yosias did that and he's gonna have a bigger role as a receiver this year so I think they're gonna be looking for another another Gunner and maybe it's DJ Turner but I just think there's a there's a lot of trust there with Jaylen Davis and what he can do on special teams he's been here for a long time and that he's the reason I went nine on offensive line just so I could keep six quarterbacks maybe the Bengals see it the same way uh so I've got DJ Ivy going staying on the pup list I think at least for the first half of the Season uh did you have who was like your last guy out I mean I guess Alan Allen George played what 90% of the snaps in the preseason I guess he would be the next guy up you've got Nate Brooks and Lance Robinson I I don't think any of those guys are truly in the mix think like I think it feels pretty obvious for for the six cornerbacks for the pickles yeah Lance got hurt in the Chicago game he's been walking around in a sling and um Alan George again a guy that's you know been here for a couple years on the practice squad as udfa guy from Vanderbilt um lots of like about him felt bad for him he he dropped the easiest interception I've ever seen I mean Anthony richardon threw it right to him in the end zone yesterday he dropped it he was getting so much grief from his teammates but it was still a pass breakup and it was the final play of that of that period but still it's like oh you could have had a big splash play but but uh yeah he's he's a guy that even if he doesn't make the team um that he's gonna be here on the practice one they like him a lot uh so I guess we're gonna have the same 53 then based on everything that we' had so far so not said it's it's pretty cut and dry it it is who do you who do you have at safety then I think we can guess but who give me your safety group yeah Gino um V of the starters then battle dejon Anthony the rookie and Tyson Anderson um Tyson just really good on special teams Darren said he was he was on the way to being a special Bowl special teamer last year before he tore his ACL he's still only like a week Beyond nine months um he did he he did they didn't play him in the in the Tampa Bay game but he did get in and play against Chicago so he's on his way he's back um I just think there's a we've not really seen him do much from a defensive standpoint he lost basically his rookie year to a hamstring injury didn't play at all and then last year everything he did was on special teams um but I still think that's valuable enough he's that good at that role that that he'll make this 53 agreed yeah I think this is the most improved position group on the Bengals by far from 23 to 2024 it should be much much much better than it was last season from communication from Talent from depth from from every standpoint I've got the same Five Guys special teams mcferson Robbins adamitis yeah it just feels like that's the default at this point Hunter wo did not have a great game against the Bears um mcneer is no longer on the roster Robins I guess wins by default yeah we'll see what the timeline is on his injury he's he's um you know he's been willing to talk about it yesterday when the the special teams were on the field we were watching then they ran to the the Back Field behind us and he was kind of like jogging behind me he's like look at me look how good I'm moving and he I think he feels really good about where he's at and um you know I don't I don't we're not GNA see him punt against the Colts on on Thursday but I I fully expect him to be the opening day starter um and if he's not you know he's that that that creates an interesting Dynamic if he's not ready physically and you keep Rico you know it's hard to keep two punters on on the 53 but do I mean do you risk having Robbins Get plucked by somebody I I don't think it's that big of a risk I I don't know there's that many teams out there desperate for another punter so I think you would you would probably be safe to bring him back on the practice squad but they may not even take that risk I think that you know you're going to see him be able to go in the opener and be on the 53 when I was doing this projection I I said I think I had 51 guys I felt good about like really really good about and then I was kind of deciding for those last two spots between Jaylen Davis dejon Anthony Tre Hill and Nate gilam and I eventually went with the two defensive backs and you know I I think there's still a chance of the Bengals could go with 10 offensive linemen and that that would have the Ripple effects down throughout the roster but I I really as long as Mims is okay and and and available as at least a bench option I do feel like Mims Ford Kirkland and Matt Lee is a really solid bench offensive line and you gives you options at multiple positions gives you upside gives you depth so I'm okay with that respect going with nine and and slotting in Davis and Anthony onto this roster and like we said at the top I feel like this is a one of the NFL's best rosters just just no doubt about it from top to bottom they've got a high-end Talent with burrow and Chase and Higgins and Hendrickson and guys like that but the depth at basically every spot where I don't feel as though there's a glaring weakness on one of these team on one of the at one of these positions I really don't you know throughout I I think free agency throughout the draft the Bengals that are really good of filling in their gaps that they did have going into the off season and I there's just not a spot any more on this roster maybe defensive tackle you could say is the one spot where you'd like to have another body but even there you drafted two mid- round tackles defensive tackles that you're hoping are going to progress this year so top to bottom I I just think that this is is not a roster where you have like that blinking red light of oh my God this thought is going to kill us this year yeah my only iffy question mark is Jaylen Davis do they go six corners but I mean I think dejon Anthony is a lock and even you know as well as he's played with the twos and in the preseason he's been repping in with the the Ws when they go to that dime package I mean they they like him a lot and he's just a player and he's he's a guy that's just outperformed who you thought he was at every single level so I I I think he's a lock I've got him as my safety 4 and is my safety five so like I said Jaylen Davis is the only one do they want to go six corners and let's look at my trusty sheet here right now um yeah they they've gone six corner at least six corners each of the last four years so I I don't I don't think that's a stretch now they were thinner on safety y um those years but um I I think that's it it is it a tenth offensive lineman or is it Jaylen Davis and I think Jaylen Davis gives you more in the current because of his special teams availability than just a contingency plan as a 10th offensive lineman so tomorrow we've got the Bengals final preseason game Jack Taylor said maybe a few starters but not really expecting too much to be gained there too much to be learned yeah um is there anything you're watching for in this final preseason game or as as we kind of go into this final weekend roster cutdowns are next week so the Bengals have to make their final decisions any other overarching points on this roster that you're kind of looking for as the angles make their final decisions now what I'm interested most is who are those maybe starters tomorrow night and and you know I think he could see sees Dax Hill in there for like one last tuneup um because the Colts are planning on playing Anthony Richardson and their starter so get him in there for series two uh one more live look at him um I I wonder about Zach Moss um we haven't seen him he was sick for the Tampa Bay game when all the other starters played so maybe they get him in just to shake some rust off um other than that yeah I don't know who those starters might be that they they're considering playing it's sure not going to be Joe burrow not that offensive line the way it stands right now because I don't think you would risk playing Trent Brown so then you're talking about you know one of those Cody for to Jackson Kirkland at right tackle I don't think they want to take that chance um but I I am interested to see and I want to see uh again is it gonna be um Jermaine Burton returning kicks and returning punts was that just kind of of a onetime experiment are we going to see some more of that and um Charlie Jones isn't a starter but I wonder if we'll see him he's he's finally worked his way back in he's doing Els it's you know he was another one of those guys that had a knee injury at first you weren't sure about and ended up not being that serious um you're hoping that Miles Murphy's timeline looks like uh Matt like Charlie Jones did so um yeah beyond that I don't know there's there's just not a lot of intrigue I guess Muma will be fun to watch knowing that he's he's oh yeah playing for you know that that that spot I think he's got it but yeah he that's what he said when I talked to him you know I just you know I thanked him I said you know it's been a lot of fun to watch you and he's like I haven't done anything yet and I was like oh that that quote's going in the St story for sure right there it's a good mindset to have he has he's done a lot I think he's done enough but for him to not feel like he has that's a good way to approach it no absolutely I for me I'm easy give me the skill position guys I want to see more Germaine Burton I want to see more Eric all like that that's that's who I want see I I want to see those guys and of course JN meta like we we know he's going to make a play he's a preseason Superstar at this point um last thing you Paul derer Mark Shalo tomorrow night 4M bet MGM Nation kitchen uh pregame show trivia maybe some prizes some food drinks it sounds like a great time like it sounds like it's gonna be a really fun time anybody who can make it down make sure you go down there before the Bengals preseason game and and hang out with Jay Paul and Mark I mean it's it's I wish I was gonna be there it's it sounds great $3 ciny lights $6 nachos Um nacho trays so it is it's a lot of fun there the the Green Day and Smashing Pumpkins concert's going to be right across the street so it's going to be great people watching um really looking forward to it with the last show we did the live show was was a lot of fun um and we do we have a lot of prizes to give away if you come down to the show and you don't walk away with something for free something went wrong so if there was no Bengals game you would be at that concert right I mean there's just are that Green Day and Smashing Pumpkins I'm assuming that's like your that's on your on your list I don't know yeah I mean I'm I'm lukew on Smashing Pumpkins i' I've seen green day before I have seen him in concert I like them um you know it wouldn't wouldn't be top of my list but okay you put any band out there live I'm I'm in the mix of course all right well anybody who can make it down make sure you join uh Jay Mark and Paul tomorrow night that'll be a lot of fun enjoy the game tomorrow make sure you watch these these backend roster guys and we will be back next week to recap this game to probably give our final roster projections and and see how this roster is going to shake out so thanks everyone for listening we'll talk to you next week [Music]