Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Stock up, stock down! | Bengals 53-man roster projection after 1 preseason game

Episode Date: August 11, 2025

With one preseason game in the books, the roster bubble is shifting for the Cincinnati Bengals. Jake Liscow and James Rapien break down who's moving up and who's moving down as they try to sort through the crowded tight end room, and identify the serious battles at the edge of the roster.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-bengalsSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Yahoo FantasyPresented by YahooFantasy #YahooPartner. Play Now at https://yahoofantasy.com/lockedonnfl.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.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year.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.

After one preseason game, the Bengals 53-man roster is taking shape. There are some battles to talk about as well. 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 on, Bengals, fans, and welcome to another episode of the Locked-on Bengals podcast. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. I'm Jake Liskow.

He's James Rapine, and we've been hosting this. podcast for, well, I can't do math. So let's just say since 2016 covering the Cincinnati Bengals every day on YouTube, everywhere you get your podcast. You can just hit that subscribe button if you're not already in every day or to join all the Bengals fans out there who make Locked-on Bengals part of their daily routine. Shout out to you if you're already in every day or, and especially if you make Locked-on Bengals your first listen.

James, today we're going to dive into the state of the Bengals 53-man Ross. as we see it a little bit more than one week into the preseason. Obviously, big movement can still happen in weeks two and week three of the preseason. But right now, it feels like to me, James, the starting spots are pretty much set. We have a pretty good idea of who the primary backups are. And the bubble is really taking shape where there might be four to six guys potentially really fighting. for one or two roster spots at the back of this roster. And those faces, those names, I think, are a bit different than they were the last time

that we did this exercise. And obviously, you have some new guys on the roster. Noah Fant is the main one where it makes it really interesting when we get to tight ends. But, yeah, this roster is pretty, pretty firm. And at least as of today, who's going to make it and who's not, obviously Joe Burrow isn't on the bubble. I think that there are some that want Jake Browning on the bubble. I don't believe he is. Dan Pitcher praised him big time on Sunday. Even after that performance on Thursday night against the Eagles and people talking about him, it's like, yeah, what his eyes were exactly

where he needed him to be. He knows the offense in and out. That's what offensive coordinators. That's what coaches want from the backup. I don't think there's a Jake Browning bubble. So those two guys aren't on it. But I do think that there is some discussion on the social media wavelength of Bengals fans that want that to be the case. I just, I don't think that that's reality when it comes to the coaches inside Paycor Stadium. Yeah, I don't think Desmond Ritter was, and he was announced this way and discussed this way when they signed him, brought in to be real competition. He was brought in to be depth. And for them to decide, is this a guy that we think we can develop into a backup in the future, Jake Browning, in his last year of team control,

and his last tape of playing regular season games involves him winning some good games and playing some good games, like playing some truly legitimately good football. And it was at the point where the discussion at the time was what can they get for Jake Browning that would be more valuable than Jake Browning on the roster, a lot of trade discussions because of the value of the quarterback position. And that could still exist to some degree out there, especially after this preseason. and especially with the hometown tie for Desmond Ritter and the University of Cincinnati. But I think the quarterback position is one of those that is pretty solidly. Joe Burroughs your starter.

Jake Browning is your backup. And as you look across the roster, there are a number of positions and players that I think fit into that solidly starter slash backup idea where there's no real discussion. But is there a starter job, James, when you look at this roster that you think is, is, still really a competition. There's maybe one that comes to mind, maybe two on the defensive side of the ball that stand out as potential starter battles. Yeah, well, the first one would be right guard, right? You want that to be a competition, but it just doesn't feel like it's a competition. I was not even thinking about right guard as one of these options. Yeah. And well, and that's it is when Lucas Patrick was playing center with the second

team and Cody Ford was getting all those first team reps to start camped at anyone I think there were some people that believe that was a true competition I know I didn't the receipts are on on the pod like I just I think they feel like Lucas Patrick is that guy and my thing was just like depends on how much time he missed like he didn't miss enough time for that to really become a real battle yeah it's so as far as offense goes outside of that no I mean there's there's no wide receiver competition and the the starters it's chase higgins yosovash uh brown locked in keros locked in uh obviously fair child and patrick and mims locked in uh get sickie slash sample like whoever you want to say their sample will be first on the depth chart whatever and then chase

brown and joe bro locked in if you're not thinking guard what are you thinking on offense as a position battle oh i didn't think any on offense i think they're on defense yeah i think defense is more interesting for sure. Maybe you can make an argument for right guard, like you said, but I don't think that that's a real competition at this point, if the last two practices are any indication, but maybe they surprise us, and maybe Cody Ford does get reps of right guard with the ones against Washington, and they give him a quarter, and they give Lucas Patrick a quarter. I don't know if that'll be the plan. Practices in the next few days will inform that, but I think Cody Ford moving to guard or moving to tackle with the second team, it tells you where their mind is there. The only other

one on offense, maybe if you really wanted to make an argument is that Noah Fant could challenge for in some way, shape, or form the number one spot for a tight end role. I think there are three distinct tight end roles on this team. One of them is a wide receiver. That's Mike Keseki and Tanner Hudson. One of them is the blocker. That's Drew Sample and Cam Grandy. And one of them is Noah Fant who is in the middle of those two things. That's the Eric All roll from last year. and Noah Phant is the only guy that does that. So in that sense, he's a starter at that particular version of how they use tight ends. Yeah.

Yeah. And that's why tight end, it's like, well, fans making it. Gassiki's making it. Sample's making it. And then you start to have that conversation. On defense, there are some starting jobs that I think are at least a little bit of question. to me the Joseph Osai one should be. And I do wonder if Shamar Stewart makes a real push over the next few weeks and is able to get that job.

I do think he gets that job at some point this season. Obviously, T.J. Slayton and B.J. Hill are going to be locked into those defensive tackle spots. Demetrius Knight, Logan Wilson, I think locks at this point. Jordan Battle. Lock. As of now, Gino Stone, when healthy, I think he's going to be a lock. could Tyson Anderson or Dejan Anthony play really well and unseat? Maybe they do, but they're going to have to play really, really well.

I think Dax Hill is going to start and Camtale, the Brit's going to start. That other cornerback spot technically up for grabs. And I think could be up for grabs between Josh Newton and DJ Turner. Yeah, that's the last one is the cornerback spot. That was what really jumped out to me. Like I think it's Josh Newton right now. but at some point

DJ Turner winning that job shouldn't be described as a shock and then the other one is at the edge position where Stray Hendrickson, assuming they get that done and who? Is it Miles Murphy's Joseph O'Size at Shemar Stewart? The window open for Shemar Stewart

although I think he does still have work to do and I think I can buy at some point this season discussion for Shemar Stewart but I'm not sure it's to start the season, to win the job out of camp. I think there's still work for him to do to get to that point.

But, I mean, there's going to be competition, certainly, for that starting job. And Joseph Osai is the guy that's been working the most on the right side. I don't know if we've seen more of Miles Murphy on the right side since Osai went out. But that's kind of it for starting jobs, cornerback and edge. and they're definitely going to rotate at edge. They're definitely going to rotate at linebacker too. There will be packages that feature Orrin Burke, so we'll be packages, I think, that feature Barrett Carter

for their respective strengths. And Al Golden has talked about that since they drafted those guys, those guys being Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter. There will be rotations all over this defense, but as far as what we would imagine is starting jobs, the lion's share of those staffs. Only a couple of those that I think are really still

question at this point and and i don't think it's significant question i think it's like fringe case you could see somebody step up and win a job yeah yeah i think oh it's it's one of those um where i i talked to people in the building and like remember when they sign i'm just going to bring them up remember when they they brought in marco wilson and and and i talked to someone and then it turned to a Josh Newton conversation in Thaksill, Camp Taylor-Brett. They've been so confident in this back-end, way more confident, I think, than the average person, even though it hasn't shaken out yet. And it still hasn't.

And will there be a surprise there? We'll see. But there's plenty of conversation. I think there's a lot of conversation on the defense, but some more on the offense as well when we get to beyond the starters. We'll do that coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by Yahoo Fantasy. Obviously, we're playing Yahoo Fantasy this year, and you should too, whether you're a first

timer or a veteran making your Millionth League, I've used Yahoo Fantasy for years. My first Fantasy Football League, many, many, many moons ago was with Yahoo Fantasy. I have multiple Yahoo Fantasy leagues this year, and to celebrate 28 years of fantasy football greatness, Yahoo! Yahoo! Fantasy is dropping 28 big new features over 28 days throughout August. And to kick it off, Yahoo dropped Fantasy Guatine Leagues. It's a killer new way to play fantasy football on Yahoo. And I've never done this. I'm going to do it this year where the lowest scoring team gets eliminated each week

until there's one team left standing with the season around the corner. Now's the time to get in, whether it's a guillotine league or if you're into the classics, you can still play head-to-head in private leagues or join a public league. Stay tuned for more killer announcements and start playing Yahoo! Fantasy football now at yahoofantasy.com slash locked on NFL. I do think, Jake, that when you get past the starters, there's plenty of questions on offense. And it may be more questions on offense, especially trench-wise,

then the defense because of number of bodies. I've said dudes a few times, but I don't want dudes to become a thing. But just the number of bodies that could be in contention makes it a little, a little murkier, maybe not a ton, but a little murkier it feels like in the trenches on offense. Well, I think across the roster, there's this conversation. that when you think about who's making the roster, a lot of people will focus on a position group, right, and say which wide receivers are going to make it or which offensive linemen are going to make it. But as you look at this roster, this was true last year too, I think it's been true a couple times we've had this conversation.

It might be a corner, a defensive tackle, a linebacker, a tight end, a wide receiver, and an offensive lineman. It might be six different positions fighting for one roster spot. And I think that is true this year, and I think we'll get to this conversation eventually where it's like, do they go light at corner to go heavier here? Do they go light at linebacker to go heavier here? That's always a question. But when you look at the offensive trenches, I think this is one of those spots that could be impacted by how many guys do they keep here? Do they have confidence enough in any group of these backups to say we're going to keep four backups instead of five? or we really need to keep five guys because we don't really know what we have.

We don't want to risk losing a guy and have to bring somebody else up and catch him up to speed because we see the drop off, say, from Devin Cochran to Caleb Etienne, who I think is a great practice squad candidate or, you know, Cordovaulson to Jackson Kirkland to be too big. So the big question is who's going to back up guard? Is anyone going to differentiate themselves there? Or is Cody Ford going to be your guy for all four positions? And then does Jalen Rivers do enough to solidify himself as the next guard?

Jalen Rivers is making the team. Cody Ford is making the team. There's no question about that. But where they are in the pecking order informs what happens with these other guys. Like if they don't get to that level of confidence in Jalen Rivers, they really like the way Jackson Kirkland approaches a game. Does that push them into keeping Jackson Kirkland because they think he can play multiple positions and they like the way he approaches guard?

Does Cordell Volson do enough? Having started for this team for many years now to say, well, we're going to, we're comfortable with Cordell as a backup. To me, Cordell is less secure on the team than Jalen Rivers. Like there's Cody Ford, Jalen Rivers, as two backups that are clearly on the team for me at the offensive line. And then I think they keep 10 here, James. But the other three guys, I think, are still a bit of a question. And that's why I think it's important one for Cordell to show that, hey, I can play at least both guard spots and be a guy that that you can rely on as a backup because they really

like Cody Ford's versatility. And if Jalen Rivers shows it, well, guess what, he's cheaper. And that does matter. That does matter when you're looking at it. And you're like, well, if we can get the same play for less, well, we're going to keep the rookie who has more upside anyway and continue to work with him. So I agree there. I think Cordell Volson, while ahead of the, you know, the Jackson Kirklands and these other guys that we've seen in the past, that try to push and kind of gain some fanfare on the bubble, he's really got to show, hey, I'm worth it. And he's not going to play center.

And so he's got to show that that guard flex. I think that's the key for Cordell is to show that and to be better at that, like clearly better than Jalen Rivers. Because if Cody Ford is your swing tackle, well, theoretically, he could also be your, he could on game day back up your guard. guard spots. But you're not going to go into a game thinking, all right, well, Cody Ford's going to be our backup at four spots. And that's it. So Cordell-Volson could certainly matter and probably does. Maybe he's just inactive at times, but that's not Bengalsy either, paying him what they're

paying him. Yeah. So if I'm him, I'm thinking, all right, how do I get into the top eight? And that means beating out Cody Ford, showing you're better than Ford at guard, beating out Jalen Rivers, showing you're better than Rivers at guard. I'm not sure he can do it, but that would be my bar, I think, to secure a roster spot. So to your point, I do think that there's some uneasiness there or there should be because there are certainly scenarios, at least at this point, where Cordell doesn't make the team. Yeah, you make a great point about the money aspect here. The Bengals are not going to pay Cordell, even after the pay cut.

They're not going to pay Cordell to be inactive. If he's not projected to be one of the top eight guys, like maybe they see Lucas Patrick as a backup center. And so they feel like they can go with a couple other guys at Guard, but then what if Patrick gets hurt? Do you need to carry a backup center as well? Because none of these other guys that are backups right now are reppping multiple interior positions.

Lucas Patrick is the only guy on the team right now with that interior versatility. So for Cordell, you really need to show something at Guard to show that you're going to be that guy. I think that's a great point. The other thing that I think is really interesting here, James, is the backup center conversation, if it's not Lucas Patrick, the guy that's not starting who's going to back up at center,

Matt Lee, Seth McLaughlin, Seth McLaughlin, getting into some team drills over the weekend. We're recording this on Monday, so he was over the last couple of days, starting to get into team drills, talking about playing in the preseason. We have not seen Matt Lee take those steps

is whatever he's dealing with, he continues to deal with. How much of a battle do you think that is between those guys? Or do you think that is a real battle at this point? I think Seth would really have to push to make it a battle. I think part of why they're taking it slow with Matt Lee is because they can take it slow with Matt Lee. It's early August. If they thought that he was competing for the spot,

I think it would be different. But I think he's entrenched there. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm reading it wrong. And the longer he's out, the more the door does potentially open for Seth as he recovers and rebounds and starts to get team reps. But to me, it feels like for for McLaughlin that it's more of a, let's establish myself a little bit, get my feet wet, hang around, and then maybe make a push next year.

Maybe I'm wrong on that. Maybe he can just go skyrocket and make a real push. And in the key to it, you're going to notice a theme here. Could he show that he's even capable of being a third team guard, showing any versatility at that guard spot? The Bengals haven't shown real willingness to put Matt Lee there in the past. And so how do you separate yourself? How do you differentiate yourself?

That's one step. But the other one is, is just being really good at center. and if he's really good at center and shows that he could potentially be the future there, he does have a little more size, I would say, than Matt Lee. I think that's fair to say. Maybe he can make a real push. I think that's a lot to ask, but it's not impossible.

Great pedigree. College pedigree to Alabama and Ohio State, two very top-end programs for Seth McLaughlin. And so we'll see how that shakes out. I do think that one's interesting. This is a spot where I think there's some real roster battles at the back of this roster. Cordell Wilson, Devin Cochran, the two big ones.

I think Cochran has had a good preseason. He started some games, or not started, but played meaningful snaps for the Bengals last year. But between Cordell, Cochran, Seth McLaughlin, Jackson Kirkland, I think that that is a battle. I think they keep two of those guys. I think that the leaders would probably be conventional wisdom, Cordell Wilson, Devin, Cochran, based on what they've done in the past. But I do think the money aspect for Colordell is interesting. I think Cochran, just so you have another piece of a tackle. And so it's not just Cody Ford, a tackle.

And he did play pretty well in that first preseason game. James, let's continue the conversation by getting through the other spots that have real battles. That means not really having a conversation here at running back. That's a pretty clear cut. But the back of that tight end room, very interesting. Also true at corner along the deep. defensive line will continue the conversation with some of those battles coming up next. August 26th is officially Fandall Futures Day.

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that are truly battles on this roster. On offense, that means a couple tight ends and I think a couple wide receivers. I think there's an argument that says they will keep five tight ends and six receivers where when they signed Noah Fant, it was immediately like, well, who does that kick off the roster if they only keep four tight ends?

I'm not so sure that necessarily has to be the case. No, I agree, and the reason I agree is because of the roles that they have. It's tough. It's tough to look at Joe Burrow and say, hey, this guy that can come in and do what you need Mike is sicky to do if Mike is out or come in and be a reliable target for you. Like, everyone thinks of Tanner Hudson and they think of that week one game last year, right? when in reality, there's been a thousand plays that Joe Burroughs trusted Tanner Hudson on when you include practice and preseason and all of those things. And most of the time, 87 delivers. He has Joe's trust. And having that as a back-end guy is valuable. And so if you have to keep five tight ends because Cam and Drew Sample do the same thing. And one is key, it doesn't mean all five are going to be active. I think that's the interesting discussion. but do you expose Tanner Hudson to waivers when he's making plays and practice and certainly in that preseason game throughout the game from Joe Burrow all the way down to to Desmond

Ritter where it's a really, really nice catch and grab like it's a tough thing to do because he's he's a quality player. He can help you on special teams. And so I lean five as well and I wouldn't have said that when they signed no offense i would have said tanner's probably gone and maybe they go the other route and they say we can stash cam grandie on the practice squad we'll make that work but the reality is it's probably five it feels like five in the at the outside looking in is mclaughlin tanner mclaughlin i i don't see what he can do how he can do it to make this 53 man roster it just there's really not a a realistic path outside of injury where i think he gets serious consideration. Yeah, it's tough. I think it's really tough for that path to be carved out for McLaughlin.

I think you can get him on the practice squad. You're probably right that they probably could get Cam Grandy on the practice squad. Cam Grandy didn't play significant snaps for this team last year until week 13. And even at that point, you're talking about, you know, 10 to 12 snaps on average per game with a peak at 17 against the Dallas Cowboys 16 and week 17 against the Denver Broncos. But damn pitcher is on record saying they want to continue being a 12 personnel team. And so if you think they're going to keep four tight ends, that means that you probably think they're keeping five linebackers. like that's probably what you get if you keep four tight ends. And maybe we're overinflating the importance of Tanner Hudson,

given that he was playing into the fourth quarter. He's their second receiving tight end, right? So there's nobody else to really do that job outside of Tanner McLaughlin, who's still on the roster and wasn't playing in that role in the preseason game. So if they see Hudson as a Gaseki backup, and Fant is not seen as a Gaseki backup, Because maybe that's how this happens. Noah Fant shows that, yeah, I can do the Eric Allstuff,

but I can also back up Mike Keseki. And I can split out. And I can do that role as well. If they decide that NOAAFant can do those things, then maybe they do feel like Tanner Hudson is more disposable in the sense of we can expose him to waivers and still get him back on the team as a veteran somehow. But the way that Tanner Hudson has responded to the NOAAFant signing has, has been, hey, you guys should really keep me around.

I can still be a reliable player for this team. For Joe Burrow, all the way down to the third QB you're playing in this preseason game. Yep. Yeah. I, that's, this is the good problem to have. I wish they were all, all of them could do it all, right? And losing Eric all stinks, but this is a fun position battle

where it's not, all right, who's the best of the worst? It's like, these guys are pretty good. And whoever makes it is going to have earned it in a variety of different ways. The locks, the absolute locks regardless, Gassicki, sample, and fanned. And then after that, it's pretty close. But we'll see. I do think five, five gets you there. I really do.

And sorry, Tanner McLaughlin. That was a weird pick at the time. And it just, it's gotten weirder than the farther away that we've gotten from it. What other key spots? Well, you mentioned linebacker. I think there's one other on offense, and that's, do they keep six receivers? Does Isaiah Williams do enough? Because Cam Grady, Tanner Hudson playing a ton of special teams.

Isaiah Williams returning kicks, but they have other guys returning kicks too, and did not capitalize on his one opportunity as a receiver in that game. It has made a ton of plays at receiver during camp. But one, do they keep a six receiver? And two, does Mitch Tinsley really have a shot at this thing at wide receiver six, I think, is the other part of this question. Well, I do think they keep six. There's wide receiver reliant as any team in the NFL,

and I just think they will. Even though those tight ends can do some of that, you know, there is a difference when you have an actual receiver versus a tight end. But I do think they keep six. Is the door cracked for Mitchell Tinsley? He's made some plays. He's made some plays.

And what I would say is you have the five locks. Charlie Jones made a few more plays on Sunday. He locked, Lock City. Dan Pat, Dan pitcher, Dan Patrick, Dan pitcher praised him as well after practice. I think that could be a waiver spot to watch too. And that would be really hard for a wide receiver to come in at that stage. I think Noah fans really trying to figure that out now, like how hard this offense is to pick up just because where they're at on offense, he'll do it. But in a. few weeks, do you look around? Yeah, they're going to look around. So don't keep an eye on that.

It might be Mitch Tinsley. It might be Isaiah Williams. I think Williams still has the lead. Or it might be wide receiver C that isn't on this team. But if it isn't one of those two guys, I don't really know who else could threaten for that wide receiver six spot. I do think they would keep and want to keep six receivers. There is an argument that you could make. And I think it's a fringe argument that says, well, since we're going to keep five tight ends and two of them or receivers only, Tanner Hudson, according to PFF, had zero blocking reps in that preseason game. You can make an argument that if they're going to keep two tight ends like that, they can only keep five receivers and be okay with it, but I do think that's a fringe argument.

On the defensive side of the ball here, James G, get to where you're benefiting if you cut one of those offensive players, because right now I have it at 26 guys on offense if you're keeping five tight ends. That's the extra guy on offense and 24 guys on defense. They're obviously keeping three special teamers. We don't know who the long snapper. is going to be yet. It's going to be a long snapper. You don't need to spend too much time discussing it. But on defense, if you're only keeping 24, I end up light at linebacker here, four linebackers. And they're all four locks. Logan, Demetrius Knight, Orrin Berks, Barrett Carter, all locks. They're all going to have roles in this defense.

Joe Giles Harrisachahe Hayward, do those guys have an argument to be on the 53? I think they have an argument. I think it's right now for me, outside looking in, but seeing them keep a fifth linebacker wouldn't surprise me the slightest. And then it's just what gives on the other end of that. People are going to say, what about MoMA? He's, I agree. What about MoMA? But he has not been playing with any regularity with the second team throughout this free season.

I think one, I would go with four because you've invested a lot in those four. Like that, that would be my logic, right? You can get those guys to the practice squad. And then the other guys, yeah, like, Muma is making it to the practice squad. One of Giles Harris and Shaka Hayward, they're making the practice squad, probably both. So now, and you're probably not carrying all three, but at least two of the three in your practice squad, you feel pretty darn good about your death. And that's where I would look at it. Like, we were just having that tight end conversation.

Who's more likely to get claimed? Tanner McLaughlin, Joe Giles Harris. Shock at Hayward or Tanner Hudson, excuse me. Yeah, then it would be Hudson because he's made plays in real scenarios, has played a ton of special teams at this point. I think you could probably get any of them through, but if you're handicapping it. Yeah, and that's what this comes down to is it's going to be this interpositional battle

where Hudson's battling Hayward. And that's a huge one. And you're like, wait, what? No, he's actually battling. No, he's not. not battling Noah Fant or whoever. It's it may come down to that and it probably should. I would go with four linebackers because how many are you keeping active, Jake? Yeah, I mean, four probably. And then you can elevate one of them. If there's any issues,

you can elevate one or go that route. Like that to me is how you would construct this roster based on what I'm seeing because the fifth one's probably inactive anyway. And I think special teams is a lot to say about this. But Tanner Hudson played a ton of special. He's, He played more special team snaps for the Bengals in 2024 than he played offensive snaps. Over 200 special team snaps for Hudson last year. So 230 something. I just looked at this. So the special teams element here is significant.

Does Darren Simmons get his guy and he's choosing between the tight end and the linebacker based on special teams? That could be it. It could also come down to corner, James, where I have them keeping six guys and behind the four that we know are on the team, Camp Taylor, Brit, Dax Hill, Josh Newton, DJ Turner. I currently lean Jalen Davis, DJ Ivy, based on opportunities we've seen those guys get. But we know they like Marco Wilson, who's still coming back from injury. Braylon Luxis stood out. There's an undrafted guy for them in this camp.

I think those guys are in competition. And then the only other spot where I think there's competition left is Howard Cross continues to rep with the second team. McKinley Jackson, clearly the backup nose tackle, but if they decide they don't need a backup nose tackle, McKinley Jackson playing into that fourth quarter. And I think that the buzzword for him has been consistency. Yeah. Yeah. I think consistency, consistency.

You can say that for a few guys on this roster. They want to see the consistency. I'm looking here. And I think there's some trust, though, in him versus some of these other guys. He's more proven than some of these other guys. But I don't know. I, to me, it comes back with some of these fringe guys. Like, do you think you can sneak them?

And I think you could probably sneak him onto the practice squad. What do you think? Who's him? McKinley? Well, I'm anyways. No, no, no, no, no. Sorry. Howard Cross. Yeah.

Howard Cross, you could get under a practice squad. McKinley Jackson, was a third round pick last year. I don't think McKinley sneaks. I think McKinley is. he had three tackles for loss the other night. And even if you don't like his attitude or whatever, like whatever, and I'm just speculating, I don't know that. Or you want him to do this differently.

To me, it's going to be much harder to get him over there, even if you really like Howard Cross. So what does Howard Cross need to do? He needs to be so great in these preseason games and in practice that they're like, we don't care if we can't sneak McKinley. He's Howard Cross is better. That's kind of the battle. Maybe it happens.

I don't think it should as of now based on what we've seen, but we're not there all the time either. And they're playing different positions, which is worth pointing out. That's why Howard Cross is getting in earlier is because BJ Hill isn't practicing. And so when they go to the second team on the defensive line, when it's T.J. Slaten and Chris Jenkins with the starters, and they go to the second team, and they want a couple three techs on the field, and they're putting Tave and Brian and Howard Cross out there. McKinley Jackson is backing up nose tackle, which is why you're seeing him as the only backup nose tackle on the teaming. That, I think, is valuable.

The other thing is, are you worried about any of these backup corners making it to the practice squad? Jalen Davis, DJ Ivy, Marco Wilson. I think that is a competition for the last corner spot in particular. But I don't really see a competition brewing at Edge. I think five guys at Edge, Cam Sample being the last, I think four safeties, Tyson Anderson, Dachan, Anthony being the backups there. Maybe PJ Jules makes an argument at some point to get into that conversation. that's a hot name over the weekend,

but the rest of this defense, I think a little bit more clear cut. Yeah, I think like Jalen Davis is one that you almost have that same conversation. Again, can you sneak him? Can you not? I think you can. I think they view that as well. Braylon Lux is someone I think they've been impressed by,

but again, can you sneak him, can you not? You probably can. And so it's probably like Marco Wilson, DJ Ivy. And I get it. People are underwhelmed by DJ Ivy. He wasn't great in the preseason game. I just think his physical traits he's going to have the edge there. But Marco's back.

And so now's the time for him to make that push as well. Yep. Big time for Marco Wilson. I keep coming back to that tight end versus linebacker for the last spot. That looks like that's probably the last spot we're talking about. Five linebackers, five tight ends. Special teams value, big part of that conversation. Are you sure you don't just go with two long snappers?

You go with Cal and William Wagner? You just take both? I am sure. Okay. Yeah. What do you think we're wrong about? Who's making a push for this roster that we did not mention? I know there are some fans out there of PJ Jules.

You mentioned Muma John Meadow. We talked about him. Tanner McLaughlin, do you think that we're, we're a raise? measuring Tanner McLaughlin too much. Let us know in the comments. Let us know on social media of what we're forgetting about here as we're taking our look at the outlook

for this 53-man roster. And that's going to do it for this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Until next time, thanks for listening. Hootay. And have a good one.