The Jessie Bates departure keeps hanging over the Bengals, and Sunday’s move only added another bruise to the story.
Cincinnati waived McKinnley Jackson, the third-round compensatory pick it landed after Bates left in free agency after the 2022 season. That selection was supposed to be one of the small consolations for losing Bates. Instead, it has now gone up in smoke.
Jackson’s release was reported Sunday by ESPN’s Ian Rapoport, and it hardly came as a shock. He had been on shaky ground for a while, and his path with the team only got narrower after Cincinnati traded the 10th overall pick in the draft for Dexter Lawrence.
The Bengals had already brought in T.J. Slaton last offseason, another sign Jackson had not done enough to force his way into the picture as a starter.
Jackson’s stint in Cincinnati never really found lift. He spent plenty of time on the healthy scratches list last season, though he did show some pass-rushing ability in the preseason and held up reasonably well, even if it was against backups. That said, the Bengals clearly wanted more than a low-end rotational piece from a player taken 97th overall.
The irony is that the Bengals nearly did not even get that pick in the first place. As Over the Cap contributor Nick Korte noted, McKinnley Jackson was the player drafted with the 3rd round compensatory pick that the Bengals almost didn't get due to an error.
A shame it didn't work out for him in Cincinnati. The source also joked, "Mgihtv'e been better off just, I don't know, letting the clock run out and forfeiting the pick.
Elle-Oh-Elle."
Jackson’s exit also deepens the concerns around Cincinnati’s 2024 draft class. Kris Jenkins Jr. went in the second round, Jermaine Burton and Jackson were third-rounders, and Daijahn Anthony was also waived on Sunday. Erick All Jr. missed most of his rookie year and all of last season, though he should be able to help soon.
Outside of Amarius Mims, the class has not looked good. Five of the 10 players are already off the roster.
Jenkins barely made it, and cornerback Josh Newton and defensive end Cedric Johnson also barely stuck. Mims, All, Johnson, and Newton still carry different levels of promise, in that order.
The Bengals at least did make a change this offseason after the Geno Stone struggles that followed Bates’ departure, signing Bryan Cook in free agency. That move was one of the few signs they were trying to clean up the mess. Even so, Bates’ shadow is still there, and Jackson’s release makes the whole saga look even rougher.
In Other News...
Bengals Practice Squad Decisions Just Put New Pressure On Roster Depth
After the waiver wire deadline passed, Cincinnati settled its 16-man practice squad and gave a clearer picture of how it wants to protect its depth heading into the season. The group includes Sean Clifford, Myles Hinton, Bralyn Lux, Kendall Milton and Russ Yeast, and it also reflects a front office still trying to build enough insurance around the roster for the long haul.
Hinton is the most notable addition from a depth standpoint after the Bengals claimed the second-year offensive tackle from Michigan off waivers to help shore up the tackle room. Beyond him, the practice squad is also a holding area for a few players who were part of the late-roster conversation, with some in line to help on special teams and others needing more time to develop before they can push for active-roster work. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Practice Squad Could Bring Back Familiar Faces And A Few Surprises
The Bengals have trimmed to their 53-man roster, and now the attention shifts to how Cincinnati fills out its practice squad. With a projected 16 spots available, the setup opens the door for some familiar faces to circle back if they clear waivers, along with a few names the staff could decide are worth keeping close as the season approaches.
The next day or so will sort out whether those released players can return, and whether the Bengals make any outside additions before the waiver deadline passes. It is the kind of roster shuffle that can quietly matter later in the year, especially for a team trying to preserve continuity while also leaving room for a surprise or two. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Have A Bigger Tight End Question After Logan Wilson Trade
The Logan Wilson trade did more than clear out a veteran linebacker from Cincinnatis roster. It also helped the Bengals land a late-round pick they used on tight end Jack Endries, and the early returns have given the team something to think about as it puts together its offense for the 2026 season. Endries not only made the roster, he also flashed enough in preseason games to get attention as the Bengals sort through a tight end group that still has room for movement.
Endries emergence adds another layer to a position already worth watching in camp and into the season. If the Bengals keep leaning into what he showed in August, he could carve out a real role sooner than expected, which is the sort of development that can quietly reshape how a passing game is built. For now, the depth chart is still the story, but Endries has made it harder to treat tight end as an afterthought. [Read more 🡒]