The Bengals’ running back room still has one of the roster’s most interesting open questions, and Jamal Haynes gave it a jolt in Friday’s preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The third running back spot has long looked like Tahj Brooks’ to lose, but his camp and preseason have been described as forgettable. That leaves the door open for someone else to make a late push, and Haynes did exactly that with a run that forced the conversation.
It was the kind of play that sticks with you even in August. When the first crease disappeared, Haynes stayed patient, worked around the traffic, then found his own cutback lane when the defense flowed too hard to the play. From there, he bounced it outside, powered through an arm tackle, left a few defenders grasping at air and finished by outrunning everyone to the end zone.
Haynes, a college free agent out of Georgia Tech, has put together a solid camp. At 5’7, he can disappear behind a big offensive line, but that size also doesn’t erase what he brings to the table. For a third or fourth running back, the value often comes on special teams, either as a returner or a coverage piece.
That’s where Haynes may have given Cincinnati something real to think about. The Bengals could still stick with Brooks, and they could even go heavier at the position and keep four backs on the 53-man roster. But Haynes’ run in the finale made sure his name belongs in the discussion.
In Other News...
Zac Taylor Enters A Bengals Season With Pressure Building Fast
The early stretch of this season figures to matter a lot in Cincinnati, where Zac Taylor enters with the kind of pressure that comes with a coach whose team is expected to contend but has not left much margin for error. Around the league, coaches like Todd Bowles, Nick Sirianni and Aaron Glenn are also being watched closely, but Taylors situation stands out because the Bengals are once again trying to prove they can stay competitive in a tough division while dealing with the usual turbulence that comes with roster and staff turnover.
For Taylor, the heat is less about one bad Sunday than the broader expectation that a team built around high-end talent should look ready from the start. If Cincinnati stumbles early, the conversation around the head coach could get loud in a hurry, especially with the NFLs impatience toward teams that fail to translate talent into wins. The Bengals do not need a perfect opening month, but they do need enough traction to keep the season from turning into an uncomfortable referendum on the coach. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Have A Roster Edge That Could Matter Fast
With the final preseason game of 2026 on deck, the Bengals are staring at the same late-summer roster crunch every team faces, only this time theyve got a little more leverage than usual. Cincinnati must get down to 53 players by the Aug. 30 deadline, and the bigger question for the front office is whether it can turn its waiver position into help where it needs it most, with backup offensive tackle still unsettled.
The Bengals sit tenth on the waiver wire because of their 2025 draft order, a spot that could matter quickly if the market for line depth gets busy. The Ravens and Texans are also expected to be in the hunt for offensive line reinforcements after recent injuries, which means Cincinnati may have to move fast if it wants to land a usable reserve, whether that comes through a waiver claim or a trade. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Bubble Players Face One Last Shot Before Final Cuts
The Bengals are heading into their final preseason game against the Eagles with a familiar kind of tension hanging over the roster. For a lot of young players and fringe veterans, this is the last real chance to make a case before the NFLs cutdown deadline forces every team down to 53 players, and Cincinnati has plenty of decisions still to sort through. Connor Lew, Dohntae Meyers and Landon Robinson are among the names likely to get another long look as the staff tries to separate developmental upside from the hard math of roster construction.
For players on the bubble, the margin is thin because the preseason is nearly over and the Bengals have already spent the summer reshaping parts of the roster through offseason additions. These games are where depth charts can still move, special teams work can matter just as much as highlight plays, and a single strong outing can change how a player is viewed going into cutdown day. Even with the bigger picture starting to come into focus, there is still room for a few auditions to alter the conversation. [Read more 🡒]