The Bengals are staring at a thin wide receiver room, and the fix probably has to come fast.
Cincinnati is down to two healthy wideouts on the 2026 roster, and that’s forcing the team to look for a short-term answer this week. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins may both miss the same Bengals game for the first time in their careers, and the Bengals also can’t lean on Mike Gesicki as an outside option the way they did last week. With another full game of punishment looming on Sunday, they need the back end of the position group to hold together.
The market is light on difference-makers beyond Tyreek Hill, but the Bengals do not need a splashy move. They just need another receiver to get through this stretch, especially since none of the four injured players are expected to be sidelined for very long.
One possibility is Keenan Brown, a 30-year-old veteran who is searching for a new landing spot after the Raiders released him in August. Brown has appeared in only 15 games over the past two seasons, but Cincinnati’s concern right now is coverage, not longevity.
The 6-2, 215-pound receiver posted Pro Football Focus grades of 70.7 and 73 in 2024 and 2023, and even though last season was wrecked by injuries, he still brings a career average of 13.4 yards per catch. That kind of profile could ease some of the load on Dohnte Meyers in the weeks ahead.
There’s also the former Bills standout, who has cooled off lately after playing in just six games last season. He logged a 61.2 PFF grade on 263 snaps, but the bigger selling point is what he’s done over his career: 15.9 yards per catch and 30 touchdowns at age 27.
Then there’s Reynolds, the longtime Jets receiver with more than 5,000 NFL snaps under his belt since entering the league in 2017. He has been a steady, middle-of-the-road performer throughout his career, never finishing a full season with a PFF grade higher than 70.1 or lower than 58.4. At 31, he should be able to absorb the offense quickly and handle spot duty over the next few weeks.
Outside of those options, the Bengals are mostly looking at receivers already tied to other NFL teams. There’s no need to panic, trade away future assets, or chase an expensive name like Hill, especially if his role isn’t even settled by next month. Cincinnati’s answer here is simple: find a stopgap, plug the hole, and survive the stretch.
In Other News...
Browns Defense Suddenly Has A New Problem Ahead Of Jets Game
The Browns defense got a fresh dose of uncertainty this week when the teams Week 5 injury report landed ahead of Sundays matchup with the Jets. Defensive tackle Mason Graham is dealing with an MCL and ankle sprain, while defensive end Derek Barnett is also on the report with an ankle injury, giving Clevelands front another reason to monitor practice closely as the week unfolds.
Safety Grant Delpit was limited because of a shoulder issue, adding to the sense that this unit may not be at full strength when it needs to be. Dillon Gabriel has been cleared to return but is still waiting on a roster spot, while wide receiver Tylan Wallace sat out practice with a knee injury, leaving a few moving parts for Cleveland to sort through before game day. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Could Be Eyeing A Week 5 Opponent For Defensive Line Help
The Browns have been working through a familiar front-line question all season, and the possibility of adding help at defensive tackle has now turned toward a Week 5 opponent. One name that fits the profile is Jets veteran Harrison Phillips, a sturdy run-stopper whose value would be tied to improving a defense that wants more resistance up front without forcing a long-term commitment.
Phillips also comes with a contract situation that makes him easier to imagine in trade discussions as the calendar moves toward the 2026 deadline, especially if New York slips and decides to move veterans for future assets. For Cleveland, the appeal is straightforward: a short-term fix for the defensive line now, while still leaving room to spend a draft pick on a more permanent answer later. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bears QB Turned A Terrifying Health Scare Into A New Mission
Connor Shaws life changed in an instant during a youth flag football game in September 2025, when the former NFL quarterback and ex-Bears signal-caller suffered sudden cardiac arrest while coaching his son. He was saved by quick CPR from bystanders and medics using an automated external defibrillator, then later had a heart monitoring device implanted as he continued to recover from the scare.
Now Shaw is turning that frightening experience into a broader push for preparedness through HRTHUDL, the nonprofit he founded to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest, teach CPR and help get AEDs into communities in South Carolina. For anyone around football, especially youth sports, it is the kind of reminder that the most important play can happen long before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]