The Bengals are letting the market move around them.
While other teams have started patching holes along the offensive line, Cincinnati is still sitting tight as the backup tackle picture remains cloudy behind Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims. The front office’s only notable response so far was to cut veteran Cody Ford and shift second-year lineman Jalen Rivers back to tackle after he either didn’t show enough at guard or was viewed as the answer outside.
That leaves the Bengals with real questions and, for now, no fresh answers. And while the team may be comfortable with that approach, it hasn’t exactly quieted the concern that Cincinnati hasn’t done enough to protect itself this offseason.
Elsewhere in the league, clubs are acting like the calendar is running out - because it is.
Kansas City already made a move for backup guard Josh Ezeudu, landing him from the New York Giants in exchange for a seventh-round pick. In Washington, the Commanders didn’t have to give up anything to add tackle DJ Humphries on a one-year deal.
Some around the nation’s capital think Humphries could even be a starter to open the season, though that feels like a stretch. Still, the signing says plenty about how teams are scrambling for help as preseason winds down.
That urgency points to what’s coming next: offensive line help will be one of the areas teams monitor closely once final cuts are made and the waiver wire opens up.
In Cincinnati, one name has at least made a case for himself. Javon Foster has handled the competition in front of him well this offseason and looks like the current favorite to be the first tackle called upon if needed.
The Bengals would probably like a longer look at Corey Robinson II, the athletic undrafted rookie free agent, against the Eagles on Friday night. But the signs point the other way. Cincinnati appears more likely to keep him out of the spotlight and try to stash him on the practice squad.
So if the Bengals are forced to lean on what they already have, the most likely setup is Foster or Rivers as the primary backup at tackle.
There is also the possibility that Cincinnati has something else in mind. The team has already been linked to free-agent tackle Cam Robinson, and that remains a name worth watching.
Still, the clearest path for the Bengals is the one they’re trying to make work right now: get enough confidence in Rivers or Foster that no outside move is needed. If they come out of the final preseason game against Philadelphia still unconvinced, then a trade becomes the next logical step - even if it would come at a steep price, possibly next year’s first-round pick.
For now, though, the Bengals are holding steady while others keep making moves. The question is whether patience turns into a solution.
In Other News...
Former Bengals Safety Geno Stone Is Heading Back Toward Familiar Trouble
Geno Stones path back into the NFL spotlight has already taken a familiar twist. After his release from Cincinnati, the former Bengals safety landed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills, giving him a quick chance to reset with a contender and re-establish himself in a new defensive room.
The challenge is that the job security looks shaky almost as soon as it arrived. NFL.coms Kevin Patra identified Stone as a potential cut candidate after preseason struggles and an apparent climb of Damar Hamlin on the depth chart, and if Buffalo decides to move on it would create cap space while sending Stone back onto the open market. Even then, his time with the Baltimore Ravens could help him find another landing spot. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Need More From This New Safety Than Just An Arrival
Bryan Cooks return to practice gives the Bengals another important piece to evaluate as camp moves forward, especially after he spent time on the sideline with a hamstring injury. The Cincinnati native is back working in individual and defensive back drills, a good sign for a secondary that needs stability and familiarity as it builds toward the season.
Cooks arrival carries a little extra weight because of where hes from and what he brings from his time with the Chiefs, but the Bengals need more than just a fresh face in the room. They need to see how quickly he can stack days, regain his comfort in full work and turn a promising return into something that actually matters once the games start. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Still Have A Few Roster Holes At The Worst Time
The Bengals are at the stage of the offseason where every cut, claim and waiver pickup matters a little more, because the countdown to a 53-man roster is exposing some uneasy spots. Swing tackle and running back depth remain the biggest concerns, and those are the kind of holes that can get tested quickly once injuries start stacking up in the wrong place.
There are already a few names floating as possible fits if Cincinnati decides to keep digging for help, with Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin and Steelers offensive lineman Jack Driscoll among the players mentioned as potential upgrades. For a team trying to get the roster in order before the season, the issue is not just finding talent, but finding the right kind of depth at the right time. [Read more 🡒]