The Bengals didn’t make the kind of splash some fans wanted at the trade deadline, but Friday handed them a possible chance to shore up a spot that matters more than ever if the season turns into a long run.
The Philadelphia Eagles waived offensive tackle Fred Johnson, a name plenty of Cincinnati fans will recognize. Johnson hasn’t started for Philadelphia this season, though he did start eight games in 2025. Before that, he spent the first three years of his career with the Bengals and made eight starts for Cincinnati from 2019 to 2021.
Cincinnati’s offensive line isn’t being treated like a problem area right now. Pro Football Focus ranked it eighth in the NFL heading into Week 10. Still, a move like this could carry real value if injuries start piling up up front.
The Bengals would have a couple of ways to approach Johnson. They could put in a waiver claim while he’s available, or they could let him clear waivers and then look to bring him in, possibly on the practice squad.
That kind of depth move makes even more sense with the Bengals heading into a crucial stretch. Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers carries major weight: a win keeps Cincinnati in control of its own postseason path, while a loss would give the Steelers the upper hand as the race tightens.
If the Bengals are serious about a deep playoff push, adding another experienced body to protect the most important asset on the roster is the kind of move that can matter later, even if it doesn’t make much noise now.
In Other News...
Bengals May Finally Have A First Round Answer At Linebacker
Linebacker has been one of the quieter but more persistent roster questions in Cincinnati, and NBC Sports analyst Connor Rogers recently floated a possible long-range answer in his 2027 mock draft. He projected the Bengals to take Notre Dame linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, a prospect whose appeal comes from a blend of run defense, pass-rushing ability and coverage work that would fit the modern demands of the position.
Viliamu-Asas profile is intriguing enough on its own, but the medical history is part of the conversation too, since he has already dealt with two ACL injuries. In a mock-draft setting, it is all speculative by nature, yet it does underline how the Bengals could eventually look to the first round for a linebacker who brings more than one skill set to the table. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Could Get Needed Secondary Help At The Perfect Time
The Bengals got a small but potentially timely boost in the secondary this week when Jalen Davis 21-day practice window opened, and he was a full participant in his first practice back. With the defense still piecing together its depth, Cincinnati is at least exploring the possibility of getting Davis back into the mix, which would give the coaching staff another option as the schedule tightens up.
Josh Newton is expected to handle backup quarterback duties against the Steelers, so the Bengals are still sorting through the immediate roster picture as they look ahead to Washington next week. The Commanders are coming off a Thursday Night Football win, which only adds to the challenge, and any extra help in the secondary could matter if Davis is ready to be activated in time. [Read more 🡒]
Cris Collinsworth Just Put More Weight On Joe Burrow's Sunday Night Stakes
Joe Burrows season has already drawn plenty of attention for the way he has carried Cincinnati through a pass-heavy offense, and now one of the games more familiar voices is adding to the conversation. Cris Collinsworth recently broke down Burrows year by pointing to the quarterbacks leadership and his ability to deliver the ball with precision, while also noting how the Bengals have leaned more heavily into the pass as the offense has evolved.
Collinsworth also singled out the Burrow-Mike Gesicki connection as a useful way to work the middle of the field, a wrinkle that has helped define what Cincinnati is trying to do. Hell get a closer look at it all Sunday night, when he joins Mike Tirico on the call for Bengals-Steelers on Sunday Night Football, giving Burrow another high-profile stage in a game that already carries plenty of weight. [Read more 🡒]