The Bengals’ preseason opener gave the front office and coaching staff plenty to sort through, and one of the biggest roster questions now points toward Kendric Pryor. Cincinnati beat the Detroit Lions on Thursday, but Pryor didn’t suit up, leaving his standing in a crowded receiver room even murkier as the team inches toward final cuts.
In an updated 53-man projection, Bengals on SI’s Jay Morrison left Pryor off the roster and kept Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Colbie Young, Mitch Tinsley, and Dohnte Meyers. Morrison framed the last receiver decision as one that may hinge more on return work than pure receiving ability.
“The battle for the final spot will be more about kick/punt returner duties than receiving, with Williams firing the first salvo in the battle with an impressive 48-yard kick return against the Lions. But then there’s Dohnte Meyers, who just continues to make plays,” Morrison wrote.
Meyers helped his case in more than one way. He led the Bengals in receiving yards in the preseason opener, then added an 11-yard punt return and a 13-yard run on a jet sweep. Those kinds of touches only strengthen his argument when roster spots are at a premium.
Morrison also pointed to the team’s recent tendency to keep plenty of receivers around. “The Bengals have kept at least six receivers in 19 of the last 20 seasons, with the lone exception being 2022 when they kept just five (Chase, Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Stanley Morgan Jr. and Trent Taylor).”
Pryor’s situation is still a familiar one for Cincinnati. He came back to the Bengals this offseason after spending several years around the organization.
He first joined the team as an undrafted free agent in 2022, then was claimed by the Jaguars after Cincinnati waived him. He later returned when Jacksonville made its roster cuts in 2023.
Before the 2022 NFL Draft, SB Nation’s Owen Riese described Pryor as “an explosive athlete” with strong hands and the ability to line up both outside and in the slot. Even with that profile, he has yet to nail down a permanent place on the 53-man roster.
A to Z Sports reporter John Sheeran recently put Pryor’s chances of making the final cut at 10%, saying the Bengals largely view him as practice squad depth who can be elevated if injuries pile up. Pryor still has more preseason opportunities ahead, but right now he appears to be fighting an uphill battle.
In Other News...
Bengals First Look At Burrows New Offense Raised One Early Concern
The Bengals got their first preseason win out of the way with a 16-14 result, and the more meaningful part for Cincinnati was seeing most of the starters on the field for an opening look at Joe Burrows new offense. Burrow was sharp enough in limited work, and the defense, even with several key players missing, found a couple of moments to make its presence felt as the team continues building toward the regular season.
Joe Burrows first series under the new setup still offered an early reminder of how fragile that transition can be. Cincinnati got production from the defense as well, with a tipped pass turning into an interception for Jordan Battle and Kris Jenkins adding pressure up front, but the bigger checkpoint now is the joint practice with the Bears on Aug. 20, where the Bengals should learn a lot more about where the offense really stands. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Just Saw A Preseason Concern Grow For Detroit
Detroits preseason game with Cincinnati brought the kind of injury scare every team tries to avoid in August. Running back and return man Jacob Saylors broke off a 27-yard run before leaving with a lower leg injury and struggling to put weight on it, a jarring turn for a player trying to carve out a role in the Lions backfield and return game. The same game also sent defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. to the sideline earlier with an apparent arm injury, adding to the uneasy feeling around a roster still sorting itself out.
The broader picture in Detroit is already a little crowded on the injury front, with head coach Dan Campbell noting Cade Mays will be out a significant stretch because of a wrist issue, while Isiah Pacheco is working back from an MCL sprain and expected for Week 1. Safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are also on the physically unable to perform list but are expected to be ready when the games count, so the Lions are still hoping this early turbulence stays limited to August. Still, any new hit to depth at this stage tends to make the rest of the preseason a little more precarious. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Depth Battle Already Produced Some Early Standouts
The Bengals used their preseason opener against the Lions to get an early look at a roster that still has plenty of sorting to do, and the first impression was a good one. Cincinnati won 16-14 while giving only limited work to starters such as Joe Burrow, leaving much of the spotlight on the new defensive additions and the rest of the group fighting to carve out roles.
That is where the night got interesting for the Bengals. With Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen among the notable newcomers drawing attention, several players battling for roster spots made their case with disruptive defensive plays, turnovers and contributions from rookies and other young players. The result was more than just a preseason win, because it hinted that the depth chart is already starting to reveal a few early standouts. [Read more 🡒]