The Bengals won’t be rolling out their starters Saturday night against the Bears, which shifts the spotlight squarely onto the roster battles and depth pieces trying to make noise in preseason Game 2.
That makes this a good week to track a few names who can change their standing with one more strong showing. Landon Robinson, Dohnte Meyers and Colbie Young all have a chance to strengthen their cases in Cincinnati’s second preseason game.
Robinson made an immediate impression in the Bengals’ first preseason outing against Detroit. He was in on one sack and also drew a holding penalty that likely would have turned into another one. On top of that, he has even taken snaps at fullback in goal-line packages, a wrinkle that only adds to his value.
His path to the 53-man roster gets trickier if Kris Jenkins makes the team, since Cincinnati would then need to keep six defensive tackles for Robinson to stick. Still, the early signs point toward the Bengals finding room for him.
He has already flashed enough that sending him to the practice squad feels like a risk. Another disruptive night against Chicago, especially if he piles up another sack or two, would make his case even stronger.
Meyers has been one of the best stories in camp, going from DoorDash driver and CFL player to a legitimate contender for a roster spot. Against Detroit, he caught three passes and added a 13-yard run on a reverse. He also brings punt and kickoff return ability, which gives him another lane onto the team.
That versatility matters in a receiver room that may be among the league’s best. Meyers can create quick separation, handle gadget work and has already proven he can produce at a high level in the CFL. If he puts together another eye-catching performance against the Bears, he’ll keep forcing the Bengals to pay attention.
Young is the third receiver worth watching, though his situation is a little different. The question isn’t whether he’ll make the roster. It’s how much of a role he can carve out from Andrei Iosivas over the course of the season.
One detail stood out: Young got snaps during the two series when Joe Burrow was on the field. That was telling. It suggests the Bengals already see enough in him to get him involved in meaningful reps, and Saturday offers another chance to see how much more he can take on.
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