Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Dalton Risner is a Bengal! | Bengals add quality veteran to interior offensive line group

Episode Date: August 27, 2025

More than a week after Dalton Risner left Cincinnati without a contract, the Bengals got a deal done on Wednesday. Jake Liscow and James Rapien discuss Risner's potential impact, even if he needs a little time to learn the offense and grow into a starting role. And with Risner, Noah Fant, and Trey Hendrickson signing deals with the Bengals late in the preseason, they re-grade the entire offseason now that the games are going to count. Plus, we take a look at the initial practice squad including a new name at QB.Join the Locked On Bengals Insider Community! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonbengalsFind and follow Locked On Bengals on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-bengals-daily-podcast-on-the-cincinnati-bengals/id1159723162Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AObc0lh0WmQl5fJVgtajsGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vbG9ja2Vkb25iZW5nYWxz?sa=X&ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwio_sXtj8nuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAgStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-bengalsListener SurveyWe’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go to https://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards.   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!RugietHead to Rugiet.com/LOCKEDONNFL and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get 15% off today.UpsideDon’t let this offer drive on by, download the free Upside app now using my limited time promo code TOUCHDOWN for a limited time 25 cent per gallon bonus! Offers vary by user and location, Go to upside.com for terms and conditions.Click Here to download the app: https://getupside.onelink.me/zlLr?af_xp=custom&pid=barrington&c=barrington_lockedon25&deep_link_value=promo&deep_link_sub1=lockedon25&af_dp=upsideapp%3A%2F%2FYahoo FantasyPresented by YahooFantasy #YahooPartner. Draft now at https://yahoofantasy.com/lockedonnfl.PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Cincinnati Bengals have signed Dalton Reisner after all. They add guard depth. But I'm not sure he's going to start in week one. Let's break it down. You are Locked-on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. What up Bengals fans and welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day.

I'm Jake Lusco. He's James Rapine, and we've been covering your Cincinnati Bengals here on Lockdown Bengals since 2016, a great place for you to get all the information you could ever need about your Cincinnati Bengals. We have you covered here every day. All the every dayers out there already know it. If you make us your first listen, we appreciate you very much for those great listening habits. Today, James, we're going to dive into the late edition. Out of nowhere, Dalton Reisner resurfaces as he signs a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals bolstering that room. How does that reshape our opinion of how this offseason went now that they have added another player, another veteran to that offensive line room and the Trey Hendrickson situation is in the rearview mirror, at least for now.

The initial practice squad is also set. We'll tell you what we know about the practice squad is the Bengals resumed practicing on Wednesday. Today's episode sponsored by prize fix. Download the prize fix out today and use code locked on NFL. you'll get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. The big news of the day, James, Dalton Reisner. After, honestly, I had let this go. I didn't think this was coming back around after he came and went and time passed.

But in the end, Dalton Reisner, now the Cincinnati Bengal. Yeah, I actually, it was sort of the opposite for me if we tie in the practice squad and the waivers. And Wednesday when the Bengals weren't awarded anyone on waivers, and then you look at the practice squad and they keep guys that they wanted and we'll get into those guys but it's not like they added an offensive lineman and i'm like all right well is it risiner time because is that where they're going are they going to go with a different vet like they have to get something done here just felt inevitable turns out it was they were able to get him done i was literally waiting for trey hendrickson at his locker to talk with trey hendrickson that was the news of the day and then dalton risner

obviously gets done trey hendricks and made it through his first bengal's practice under his new contract was certainly excited to talk football a bit and less about the contract. So, yeah, I think it's one of those things where we thought when he left the building last week after his workout, oh, well, he's going to go to Seattle. He might go to Pittsburgh. We never went to Seattle. There is no documented visit, which visits have to be reported with the Seahawks. He never went to Pittsburgh.

He never went anywhere else to visit. And so the door was always open. The Bengals have, oddly enough, still not named a starting right guard. And Zach Taylor kind of kept that tight to the vest on Tuesday after cuts when he was asked about that. I'm not sure Dalton is going to start, especially right away. The regular season's 11 days away. He's not in the building right now. But he's going to be soon.

And this is a heck of a, a heck of a way to bring in someone that over the past two years hasn't allowed us. Sack, according to Pro Flipball Focus, has appeared in 25 games over that span, is known for his past protection, has the ability to play either guard spot. He's experienced. He's versatile. He's been a quality past protector. It's a heck of an addition to this roster on August 27th. The biggest takeaway, James, is that I can, in fact, watch film of potential future Bengals

before they become Bengals. I have no longer cursing the Bengals to not acquire the players that I've watched before they signed them. And I watched Dalton Riser play in a playoff game last year for the Minnesota Vikings and he was pretty dang good in that game. He's been around. The NFL clearly doesn't

think as highly of him as pro football focus. I think that is very clear at this point. I think we've talked a lot about that. But I do think that he's at least a functional pass blocker in the NFL. He doesn't necessarily give you a ton in the run game. He's going to go

out there and he's going to do his best. No doubt. It's not like an effort thing or anything like that. But the style of his game suited to pass blocking, what I've said in the past about this is that the sackless streak, not necessarily the degree of difficulty that he will face in Cincinnati, where there's much more dropback passing. He's going to be on an island more. He's going to have to find a way to be in sync with his teammates, of course,

as far as passing off stunts and things like that. And he's going to have to get all that done with a lot. the benefit of training camp in the preseason to develop any chemistry is, like you said, he might not start right away, pretty short notice to get a guy up to speed and a graduate level offense or a PhD level offense maybe more accurately that quickly and have him ready to start right away. But this is a move that has made sense for quite a while for them to make. So it's a move that you should be happy about. It raises the floor. It gives them valuable valuable depth at worst and experience at that spot.

So I think it's great that they have finally made this move, the move that we've been talking about literally for months, that one more move on the offensive line. Still curious about what their thoughts are, about the backup tackle situation. I think it's just Cody Ford. And of course, they have Devin Cochran and Andrew Coker on the practice squad. They get those guys there.

And again, we'll talk more about that full practice squad later. and also going to be curious to see what kind of money is tied to this Reisner deal because while he didn't visit Seattle or Pittsburgh, I am pretty sure that he had offers from multiple NFL teams at the time the Bengals had that visit last week. And he was kind of waiting to figure out what the best situation and the best offer might be. So curious money to see if the Bengals ended up upping the money from what I think was offered at the time. And interested to see the corresponding move is well, James, where I expect it will be a defensive tackle

to the practice squad, that the Bengals will try to move one to the practice squad where they still have one open spot as of the time of recording. But those are the things that remain interesting to me from a procedural perspective in addition to the football fit as to like how quickly does riser acclimate, get caught up, get up to speed, and does he push for that starting job sooner than later? Yeah, it's going to be tough for him to do so. It just is week one. But he raises the floor, you're right. I also think he raises the ceiling. Like, There's a scenario the Bengals just signed their best guard this year just now. But by like a decent margin.

You hope that's not the case. You hope it's Dylan Fairchild, right? That would be ideal. But I think it just rounds out the room. I said it when they brought him in last week. It rounds out the room. The entire offensive line room as a whole. And now if Cody Ford is that swing tackle, yeah, maybe you don't feel great about it.

But you do have other options on the practice squad that do seem to be developed. and have played in Devin Cochran's case in games. And who knows? Like maybe Lucas Patrick ends up being your interior backup at three spots on game day. Like that wouldn't shock me if they get to that point. And so it gives them some flexibility there. So I think that this is, it's a big step in protecting Joe Burrow. And whether he starts or not, it's kind of a moot point because we've seen them

have offensive line injuries each and every year, and it happens. And having a guy like Reisner either starting or backing up at Lucas Patrick or vice versa, or if Jalen Rivers gets in the mix, like there any scenario at guard is better with Reisner involved. And so today is a huge, huge day for Joe Burrow. He was at his locker when this news broke, acting like normal Joe, but I'll say it. A big, big day for number nine. Potentially a big day for Joe Burrow.

I agree with you there, James, in terms of the protection that he will have available to him this season. I am going to do something bold here and not make a claim that we've made several times in the past and not say, this is surely the best offensive line Joe Burrow has ever had in pass protection. Because full me, I don't know, four times. Shame on me at some point. I'm going to make them prove it. Let's see what it looks like. But theoretically, hypothetically, Dalton Riser, a good pass protector to add to the mix.

and I'm not picking any bones about that. But with that said, with Dalton Reisner in the mix, the texture of the offseason looks a little bit different now. There was a lot of drama along the way, of course. But a great suggestion, by the way, from one of our Locktown Bengals insider subscribers over at Joinsubtext.com slash Locktown Bengals to recap and revisit our grades for the Cincinnati Bengals offseason.

How do, I guess, the last week of moves? And the way this roster has shaped up now that the regular season is here. Does that change our thoughts on the overall success of the Bengals offseason? We'll get to that topic coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by prize picks. Whether you've got your eye on big-name quarterbacks or breakout running backs, prize picks makes it easy to get in the game. Prize picks is daily fantasy the way it should be. It's a daily fantasy platform that lets you turn your football predictions into real rewards. Preseason is already heating up.

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prize picks app today. Use code locked on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That's code locked on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5. Price Picks run your game. All right, Jake. Let's regrade this offseason. And if you would have said at the beginning of the offseason that the Bengals make Tray happy, get Jamar done, get tea done, bring in what I think at some point, and I'm willing to say this, I think Dalton Reisner will start for the Bengals at some point this year, when, why, who knows, but land a starting guard, draft two more offensive linemen that have yielded pretty solid results to this point, and we'll see if we feel that way in a few weeks.

and Delon Fairchild and Jalen Rivers, where would we rank this offseason? That checks a lot of boxes. Where are you at grade-wise, A through F for the Bengals off-season? Yeah, assuming that we're not docking them for style points, right? Because the style points grade would be pretty bad. The style points grade, not so good. And maybe we also aren't docking them too heavily for cap management, because as of Wednesday when we're recording this,

reportedly Trey Hendrickson's cap number is only going up $3 million for 2025. Reportedly, they've used a void year. So waiting for details there. And once we get those details, we will probably have more to say about that. So stay tuned. There's a lot of cap space unused here that could have gone toward a couple spots to make me feel better about the roster, defensive tackle, safety.

And maybe those are moves that are still coming in some ways. shape or form. But I think the other big style point bit, just to make the point, not that we're necessarily knocking him for it, is the conclusion with Trey is, yeah, he's happy, he's playing, but he missed all the training camp, and there's a lot of drama to get there, and they didn't actually get anything outside of paying him more to make sure he's on the field this year, from the team's perspective. There's no extension there, right?

but I think it would have to be higher than it was at the time. And I think that Dalton Reisner, who we had as a Tier 3 free agent, when we did our pre-free agency rankings, if they had made that move during the free agent frenzy of March, we would have thought, okay, they've gotten a starting guard here. There's a real veteran starting guard with starting experience at both spots who's been good. that was one of our biggest concerns coming out. So I don't think this gets it up to an A because, like I said,

they could have spent a little bit more money and done better at safety. They could have spent a little bit more money, and I think they could have done better defensive tackle. Not that there were easy moves to make in either of those areas because defensive tackle in particular was very thin in this offseason. But I think it does bump it up at least a little bit. So I don't remember what my grade was previously. I'm going to be honest, but I think that I would be solidly in the B range at this point,

maybe high B range, maybe B plus range, with, I think probably B is where I settled, James. What do you think? Because of the safety thing, more than anything, safety and defensive tackle debt. Sure, it wasn't a perfect offseason. So to pretend it's an A, I'm not going to go there. But they did a lot of great stuff. You did a lot of great stuff. And no, you don't get style points for what happens.

with Trey and how long it took and you didn't get a long-term deal done and so long-term there's questions there fine long-term there's still going to be questions at Rikard like there's still going to be topics there that we talk about whether it's defensive line depth whether it's offensive line like of course there are fine but also when you look at the 2025 roster and where they were last year where they are this year what they did coaching staff-wise what they did around Joe Burrow to keep his weapons, to add weapons, to go get Noah Fant. That's something that in the past I'm not sure they do because, oh, well, we have this guy and that guy. Well, they go get Noah Fant who's a quality free agent.

Then they go get Dalton Reisner, who I'm not sure they were interested in before the Cordell injury. And I think that that's a really interesting what if would they have even gone this route. and the Cordell injury was super unfortunate, but at least they were willing to pivot and get someone that's proven. And that's why I didn't panic when they didn't get anyone on waivers. It's like, all right, well, they didn't get anyone. Most of those guys were claimed before their priority, but maybe this is because they're going to go make a deal for a guy that can matter.

And they did do that. So they deserve a lot of credit. I think you're right in that B range, like 85 to 88 percent, something in that range where it's like a really good offseason. And Joe Burrough should be in position to really make a run here at MVP. The Bengals should be in a position to start fast. They should be in a position. I'll say it right now to go to Cleveland and win. And we'll see.

We'll see if they can get it done. And there's obviously still questions. Well, there's questions about every team in the NFL right now. Even the Eagles. There's questions, I promise you, about them. Maybe not as much as other teams because they're pretty darn complete. But there are still questions about most teams in the NFL. And so, yeah, it's fair to have questions.

It's reasonable to have concerns. But I do think they deserve a B, a high level B, maybe not all the way to a B plus, but close to it for what they've done this offseason overall. What if you split at offense defense and say? offense gets this grade, defense gets this great. What do you think if I were to pose it to you that way? What would you grade them for their offensive moves? Dylan Fairchild, Jalen Rivers, Noah Fant, the return of Mike Gaseke, Jamar Chase, T. Higgins, of course, Mitch Tinsley's emergence, if you give them credit for the development there, which I think you do to some

degree, and then Adolton, Reisner's the mix. Yeah, A. A for offense. I don't really know how you don't give them an A for that. Yeah. Defense, and this is why it's a B. It's probably like a C, minus, right, where they really invest in linebacker. And it's like, could you have added a pass rush or somewhere there or added, addressed your offensive line with another young lineman. And instead, they really go in at linebacker. They don't address the secondary the way I think some people are expecting them to, whether it's safety or corner.

And defensive line, it looks a little different for sure, but they're still banking on some familiar faces as well. and then they didn't get a long-term deal done with Trey. So probably C-minus there. And so when you combine them together, obviously the coach's coaching change is a positive. I think it just feels like it is. I don't know if it'll work.

I do think that there's new energy on that side of the ball. So, yeah, I think it's an A for offense and then like a C-minus, and that's how you get your B. Well, and then Billy Wagner, come on. Big, big changes on the special teams unit. Come on. I think I'm mostly You're on a role today.

You're at a role today. Just trying to make you laugh. A couple one liners. A couple one liners. I think I'm largely in agreement. The specific moves are really where the quibbles come in. You only have so much a defensive tackle right now. The safety conversation is what it is on defense.

The Shamar Stewart pick on the defensive line being what it was, the drama around Shamar Stewart this off-season, I think that that could have left our perceptions different if he had been around the whole time and if we had seen more from him in the preseason, but he wasn't. And then even at the time, the second round pick for Demetrius Knight

instead of Dylan Fairchild's teammate Tate Ratledge and then landing Dylan Fairchild could turn out to be a brilliant move. But at the time, we were critical. At the time, we thought, why are you passing on a guard in the second round for a linebacker? And we'll see how that works out. Hopefully, that's one of those where the Bengals are more correct than we are. But I do think that the overall feeling has changed a little bit with the addition of Dalton Reisner

and the benefit of knowing how things have developed on offense. No offense, Dalton Ryzer and Trey Hendrickson in the last few weeks are good moves for this team to have gotten done. Even though the Trey thing is like kind of a wash, it at least gets Trey happy this year and at least make sure he's going to play this year and not miss any time. In early enough for week one where he's not distracted. Yeah. That's huge. Not doing it on Thursday.

We got news about next Thursday for clarification. We got news about the Bengals practice squad to go a different direction at quarterback on that practice squad, one spot open as of the time of recording. We'll finish up with what we know about the Bengals practice squad coming up next. You've probably heard of Viagra or Cialis, and maybe you've even tried those particular pills, but if you're looking for something beyond the usual pill, it's time to meet Rugglesiatt Ready.

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So, well, maybe you're feeling really, really good about the Bengals chances following the past couple of days. Maybe not. Maybe you're punting. Like Ryan Rico trying to punt it to the moon, the idea that the Bengals have had a good offseason, regardless, you got to get on all the fun with Fandall. Fandall is going to make the entire season more exciting, whether you go with the same game parlay, prop bets, future bets. Fandle has it all in one spot.

So if you're ready to play, download the Fandle app now by visiting Fandle.com to get started. That's fandle.com to place your first $5 bet. James, you have plenty of understanding of what the Bengals practice squad is going to look like as we dive into who is on that practice squad right now, what positions are conspicuously missing. Just want to remind everybody, we have a little request for you. You can go check out a survey about your favorite lockdown podcast. Hopefully it's Lockdown Bengals at Lockdownpodcast.com slash survey. You'll have a chance to win one of $10, $100 gift cards.

If you check that out, you'll have a chance to tell us what you like, but you don't like and answer questions about our advertising. Again, that's Lockdownpodcast.com slash survey, and you can also find that link in the show notes. As we know, 15 of the podcast. the 16 players that will be on the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad to start this season. A lot of players that we expected to see back that were guys that were maybe on the bubble of the roster or had impressed in the preseason but looked destined for the practice squad.

And one significant, I don't know if I call it quite a surprise, I didn't expect Desmond Ritter to be someone that they were keen to bring on to the practice squad. We talked about that a couple of days ago. But Brett Ripion and the... Nope. Is it not ripian? No, it's it's ripping, baby, rip it. What are we doing with these silent eyes?

The English language is a scam. Hey, Ripin. It's my last name just with a lie, you know? You didn't know his dad? Come on. But you pronounce the eye. Repet. Way different.

It is different, though. It is different. Rip it. Ripin, baby, rip it. Where I was going with this is that it's hilarious that they signed Brett Rippin on the same day. They signed Dalton Risenner after the little scuffle they have. have on the sideline when they played together in Debra. Who wins that fight? I think Rippin will whoop them. No, I'm just kidding. All right,

guys, don't fight. I was just joking. Don't fight. You called this. You gave me props on social media yesterday for one of my roster calls. I forget what it was, but you called this with Ritter. I wasn't sure. I was just like, oh, well, you know, and they said, now we want Brett ripping. Ripin, baby, rip it. I keep saying that because in 8 Mile, I don't know why I thought of this. Why I was saying Rippin, one of the, is, of Papa Doc. One of the guys is like, rip it, baby, rip it. Yeah. And he's talking to the guy battle in Eminem and then Eminem destroys him. Anyways, that's where I'm getting that from. Eight people are probably going to remember that, and I'm seven of them. That being said,

I think I was a little bit of a surprise. He was at practice, by the way, on Wednesday. So this was in the works, him flying here, him signing to the practice squad. I don't hate it. I'll say that. You know, Boise State alone. He played for the Los Angeles Rams in the past, obviously played with the Broncos. And then he spent time on a multiple different practice squads. Minnesota, Seattle, was on the Jets' active roster for a little bit as well. So is experienced, has bounced around, has learned multiple offenses.

And for a third quarterback, do I think that on paper he can give you a little bit more than Logan Woodside and run the offense better than what Desmond Ritter showed? Probably. So why not take a roll of the dice there? Outside of that, it's all the same guys that were in camp on this practice squad, except for one. And we can get to him in a second. I'm just going to read him real quick, Jake. Gary Brightwell, Devin Cochran, Andrew Coker, Jalen Davis, Joe Giles Harris. I think that's a big one to get Joe Giles Harris back.

Jackson Kirkland, Braylon Lux, Seth McLaughlin. I know a lot of people are excited about that one. Kendall Milton, Jordan Moore, Mummajong, Mehta, Isaiah Thomas, and Isaiah Williams. of the two Isaiah is rounding it out. But yeah, I'm glad they were able to get all their offensive linemen back that they wanted back. And overall, I'm pretty excited with what they were able to keep. I think the most interesting thing here is probably in terms of the players on the practice squad, the offensive lineman, Cochran, Coker, McLaughlin, Kirkland.

McGlachlan, a guy that Bengals fans have been excited about, especially those that were Ohio State fans, since they got him as an undrafted free agent. He was a guy that was thought by some to be a really excited. exciting center prospect before the Achilles injury. And Coker and Cochran both have had useful and impressive for what they were competing with

pre-season. And Cochran has, of course, played in meaningful regular season games for this team after being on the practice squad, I think, for most of last year, if memory serves. So I think getting all four of those guys on the practice squad is useful.

We'll see if that changes it all. Now with Dalton Reisner's signing, complete. I think that for that 16th spot, it will be a defensive tackle. They don't have any defensive tackles currently on the practice squad before the riser move and the corresponding cut is made. Wouldn't be surprised if they add another edge rusher at some point to the practice squad as well as Cedric Johnson's on Iyer return and we'll see what happens when it's time for him to return. The other nice ones to see back that you can see having roles throughout the season. You mentioned Joe Giles Harris. I agree with that one.

Jalen Davis, I think. Another one that they hold in high regard, both of those slot corners on the practice squad. But Kendall Milton and Isaiah Williams. Kendall Milton being the next guy up at running back, showed something in the preseason, thought he looked good, and Isaiah Williams being the next guy up as a returner.

Now, Germain Burton did return to practice from what I saw James in some capacity on Wednesday, so that's good news for him that he's not just entirely sitting out. But Isaiah Williams would be the next guy, I think if they needed a return man. And so having him on the practice squad is handy. Yeah, for sure. I really pleased that there are scenarios where if Mitch Tinsley doesn't go nuclear-wise

when Isaiah Williams makes the team. And we thought just a few weeks ago that that would be potentially be the case, certainly at the beginning of August and even into that first week of August. So, yeah, they were able to keep their guys. And I think that's anyone that we were talking about roster battle-wise on the fringe, like those guys are there. And that's pretty darn big. We'll see if they keep whoever is the guy Reisner is going to replace on the 53-man roster.

That's something interesting that we'll have to monitor. And then the other thing, they announced this and they announced Ripett and the rest of this practice squad. And then they bring in a little familiar last name at least. A guy by the name of Russ Yeast. Anyone to remember Craig Yeast? Just me? All right. Well, he's the son of former Bengals wide receiver, former Bengals fourth round pick.

Craig Yeast, who spent a couple of years in Cincinnati and had two punt returns for touchdowns, by the way. But Russ Eust is a safety. He's played a bunch of games. I mean, he's pretty experienced for being 26 years old. He's appeared in 32 games for the Rams in his first two years. Overall, 36 career games. He's got some special teams experience. And to have him on the practice squad, it's something.

It's not like an undrafted. rookie as your safety. It's a guy who's actually played in NFL games. He played in a playoff game with the Rams. So at least he's got some experience. He's got some experience. He was the seventh down pick. He, I was trying to pull up his snap counts. I was playing a lot of, it looks like deep safety for the Rams in the preseason as played quite a, or sorry, it was with Houston this year. He's played quite a bit with the Rams as well in previous preseason. I was trying to pull up some of his snap counts and usage from pro football focus as we were talking, but it is not cooperating.

Useful safety depth, nonetheless, that is a position where we knew they needed to add depth. I would be maybe mildly surprised if this is the only move. He did play 800 snaps like you mentioned for L.A. back in 2023 when he played the most of his defensive playing time snaps in the NFL. 400 of those snaps aligned at deep safety, 183 in the slot, and 208 in the box that year. So has some starting experience at least played a bunch that year for the Rams. So an experienced piece of safety at least to join the practice squad.

Yeah, for practice squad, it makes sense. I get it. I get the people that are like, well, that's not Justin Simmons or that's not fine. I'm not saying don't go get one of those guys, but at least they got a guy, right? I mean, you have Dejan on injured reserve. You need someone that has some playing experience. So I don't think he's going to get in the way of them adding someone else necessarily if they want to go that route. But I don't think they want to go that route today, if that makes sense.

Yeah, do we think there are other veteran moves coming at this point? Now with Reisner being added on the offensive line, it feels like another veteran offensive line. move would be a mild surprise especially with both of those tackles being on the practice squad what do you think for another veteran move it feels like it like it's complete as of now but and they have cap space they have cap space and that's uh something we'll have to certainly cover in a future show is uh when we get clarity on this trade deal on the back end of it and uh in where there are cap wise and what they could do which impacts everything impacts what they could do at the trade dub line impacts what they could do next week impacts what they could do in week three so

we'll see yeah i wonder if they're holding that money for another that cap space in particular for another veteran deal i think that'll be interesting the impact on the potential tray tag number i know adam shafter reported a number i'm not so sure that number was right so again we'll revisit that if and when we get the the information we need to have a good idea of what that will look like for tray I had one other thing to add. Oh, yeah, the other thing, last thing, then we'll get out of here is pretty positive injury notes from Wednesday's practice overall.

All the guys that maybe had some questions from an injury perspective, as far as I know we're back in practice, including, I think, Mike G. So we'll have more practice updates. We'll start getting injury updates from an official report perspective. Next week, no official injury reports

until after this week. But we'll have Rob Weintraub with us, Cincinnati Magazine, I think football outsiders. Is this still with football outsiders, James? Football outsiders. Almanac. I believe that it's technically called something different now. It is. You put me on the spot.

But it's okay because, yes, he is going to, no, it's still football outsiders. Okay. The almanac is powered by someone different or something like that. But yeah, Robert Weintraps great. and he's going to be joining us. We can ask him about Dalton Reisner. There we go. So we'll have that for you tomorrow.

Until then, thanks for listening to this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Ho day. Have a good one.