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...
Jeremiah Smith Is Giving Ohio State Fans New Rivalry Ammo
Jeremiah Smith has done more than look like Ohio States most dangerous pass-catcher. Through five games, the sophomore wideout has piled up 823 receiving yards, 44 catches and nine touchdowns, production that has made him the national leader among wide receivers and given Buckeyes fans plenty of ammunition in a rivalry that rarely needs extra fuel. With Ohio State humming near the top of the sport in scoring, passing and total offense, Smith has been a centerpiece of an attack that looks every bit as imposing as advertised.
Across the border, Michigans offense has had a harder time finding that kind of rhythm. Bryce Underwoods passing numbers have been modest by comparison, and the Wolverines have lingered near the bottom of the national rankings in several offensive categories, a sharp contrast to Ohio States efficiency. For Buckeyes fans, Smiths emergence adds another layer to the annual debate over which side has the better firepower, even if the most important chapter in that argument still waits to be written. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has A New PFF Debate As O-Line Questions Linger
As Ohio State keeps sorting out its offensive front, the conversation has spilled into an old debate about how to judge line play in the first place. Left guard Luke Montgomery pushed back on Pro Football Focus, arguing that offensive linemen are too dependent on each other for individual grades to tell the full story. It is a familiar complaint in football circles, but it lands differently when the Buckeyes are still working through personnel and continuity issues up front.
Ryan Day has already acknowledged the line is in a stretch of adjustment because of Phillip Daniels' injury, and the staff is still trying to integrate him back into the mix. For Ohio State, that leaves the spotlight on both performance and perception, with the Buckeyes trying to stabilize a unit where communication and cohesion matter as much as any single snap. The grading debate may never go away, but it is especially loud when the line itself is still very much a work in progress. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has A Growing Devin Sanchez Problem To Fix Fast
Devin Sanchez has been drawing too much attention for the wrong reasons over the last two games, with the sophomore cornerback flagged multiple times for pass interference and now sitting at five penalties on the season. It has become a real issue for Ohio States secondary, because the Buckeyes can live with aggressive coverage, but not the kind that repeatedly hands opponents free yardage and extends drives.
Ryan Day has already made clear the answer starts with better composure and cleaner technique, and secondary coach Tim Walton is working on a plan to address it in practice. The timing matters with Maryland coming next and a passing offense that will put Sanchez back in the spotlight, giving him a chance to show the kind of correction Ohio State needs fast. [Read more 🡒]