Dohnte Meyers is doing exactly what a roster hopeful has to do in late summer: keep showing up, keep making plays, and keep forcing his name into the conversation.
The former CFL standout has worked his way into the Bengals’ battle for one of the final receiver spots, where Charlie Jones and Ke’Shawn Williams have also been fighting for position. Jones and Williams are trying to lock down the team’s primary kickoff and punt return job, and Meyers has jumped into that mix too.
That versatility has been on display all camp. Meyers has stacked up a string of notable moments, including a deep touchdown catch from Joe Flacco during a practice inside Paycor Stadium. He also showed sharp timing with Joe Burrow on a back-shoulder throw in the indoor portion of practice before hauling in the deep ball from Flacco once the team moved outside.
“There’s a lot to like about Dohnte,” said OC Dan Pitcher. “He’s diligent, he cares, he’s got… pic.twitter.com/plG5fAXUgp
Meyers arrived in Cincinnati after signing a futures deal with the Bengals in early January, and the road to a 53-man roster spot has been steep from the start. But he said the jump from the CFL to the NFL has felt familiar to him.
“I feel like I'm playing football, whether it's in Canada, whether it's in Cincinnati, I just like to play football, so that's just what I've been embracing," Meyers said. "Me and Housh connected, I had a chance to pick his brain kind of glean from the experience, especially being in this locker room, being in a similar offense and working with similar coaches."
That connection with Bengals great T.J. Houshmandzadeh came through Meyers’ trainer, Stephon Brown.
“Him and my receiver trainer back home Stephon Brown, they know each other, and Steph connected me to T.J., " Meyers revealed of his connection with Houshmandzadeh.
The background is hard to ignore. Meyers was an undrafted free agent in 2023, then put together a productive 2025 season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, finishing with 65 catches, 1,056 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games. He also added 413 total return yards on 20 attempts last season, another reason the Bengals have given him a look in the return game.
For Meyers, every snap matters, and he said he knows the opportunity has to be earned every time he steps out there.
“I just cherish every opportunity, regardless if its a returner, in the offense, every opportunity is scarce,” Meyers acknowledged of his opportunities. "I believe if you're on a professional football team, they call your number, whatever that role is you're trying to maximize and just show them that you know you can be trusted."
That trust is the key. Meyers has a real shot to stick, but he’ll have to prove he can be dependable as a returner, where Jones and Williams have already shown well in games that matter. The competition is still open, and Meyers has done enough to keep himself in the fight.
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