Former Bearcats cornerback Matthew McDoom is getting a new shot in the NFL, this time with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Cincinnati announced it has picked up McDoom, giving him a chance to compete for a place in the defensive backs room during the team’s upcoming preseason games against the Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles. His first opportunity comes Saturday, August 21st, when the Bengals face the Bears.
McDoom arrives after a strong season at Cincinnati, where he was the Bearcats’ top cornerback. He finished with 50 tackles, including 29 solo stops, along with four pass deflections and a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against Oklahoma State. Before transferring to Cincinnati, McDoom spent three seasons at Coastal Carolina, where he posted 21 pass deflections and three interceptions.
His path to Cincinnati has already included a brief stop with another NFL team. McDoom originally signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on April 25th, but was waived on August 8th, before the Ravens’ preseason game against the Eagles.
McDoom now joins a growing group of former Bearcats in Cincinnati, including safety Bryan Cook and 2025 teammate Jack Dingle. Both McDoom and Dingle are trying to win roster spots ahead of the August 30th deadline, when the Bengals must finalize their 53-man roster by 6:00 p.m.
The Bengals currently list 10 cornerbacks on the roster, though that number is expected to drop to six by the start of the season. DJ Turner II, Dax Hill, Tacario Davis, Josh Newton, and DJ Ivey are all believed to already have spots locked up, leaving McDoom to battle Ja'Sir Taylor, Jalen Kimber, Jalen Davis, and Brayln Lux for what could be the final opening.
In Other News...
Bearcats Secondary Suddenly Faces A Real Test After Key Loss
The Bearcats secondary took an early hit when a projected starting safety went down before the season could really get rolling, forcing Cincinnati to adjust its depth chart and its defensive plans on the fly. It is the sort of setback that can reshape a position group fast, especially for a unit that had expected a steady hand in the back end.
Now the focus shifts to the next wave of defensive backs, with CJ Crite, CJ Jones and KK Meier positioned to see more snaps and a bigger role in the weeks ahead. Their backgrounds make them logical candidates to step into the opportunity, and how quickly they settle in could go a long way toward determining how stable the Bearcats secondary looks once the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]
Bearcats Still Have Key Starting Jobs Up For Grabs Before Opener
The final week of training camp has the Bearcats ironing out the last few details before their season opener against Boston College, and there are still enough openings on both sides of the ball to keep the depth chart interesting. Scott Springers early starter projections offer a first look at how recent scrimmages have shaped the offense and defense, while the latest practice notes point to a team still sorting through several position battles as game week approaches.
One of the bigger questions sits behind center, where the quarterback picture is starting to come into focus even as the No. 2 job remains unsettled. Up front on defense, there is also a notable vacancy to monitor in the middle of the line, where Cincinnati is weighing options as it looks for the right fit to help replace a key presence and settle the interior before the first snap counts. [Read more 🡒]