The Cincinnati Bengals are getting closer to the point where offseason optimism and preseason evaluations have to give way to some very difficult decisions. With the preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles over, the Bengals will soon have to determine which players from their crowded roster have done enough to earn a spot on the 53-man roster — and which ones will be looking for work elsewhere.
There is plenty of reason for optimism around Cincinnati entering the 2026 season. Joe Burrow is healthy, the offense has its familiar collection of elite weapons, and the Bengals have made significant investments in rebuilding the defense, most notably with the additions of Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen.
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That optimism is reflected in the current betting market, too. FanDuel currently lists Cincinnati at +170 to win the AFC North, +900 to win the AFC Championship, and +2000 to win Super Bowl LXI. The Bengals are also -196 to make the playoffs and -165 to win more than 9.5 games.
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FanDuel Sportsbook’s latest NFL odds
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Of course, none of those expectations make roster decisions any easier. The Bengals have several position groups with legitimate competition for the final few spots, and some players who appeared relatively safe entering training camp may now face a much less certain future. Below, we’ll keep track of the Bengals’ roster cuts as they happen, along with some of the more notable surprises and decisions.
Cincinnati Bengals 2026 Roster Cuts Tracker
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —
Running Back
Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —
Wide Receiver
Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —
Tight End
Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —
Offensive Line
Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —
Edge Rusher
Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —
Linebacker
Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —
Cornerback
Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —
Safety
Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker
Cut: —
Notes: —
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Punter
Cut: —
Notes: —
Long Snapper
Cut: —
Notes: —
While the final cuts will ultimately determine the 53-man roster, there are already several players who have emerged as names worth watching as Cincinnati works through its decisions.
Tahj Brooks: The former Texas Tech running back hasn’t necessarily shown enough to make his roster spot feel completely secure. With competition at running back and the Bengals having other options available, Brooks could be one of the more interesting decisions.
T.J. Slaton: Cincinnati’s offseason additions along the defensive interior have created a fascinating numbers game. Slaton has plenty of NFL experience and could very well make the roster, but the Bengals have added significant competition to a position group that could force a difficult decision.
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Mitchell Tinsley: Tinsley’s recent emergence has made the wide receiver competition considerably more interesting. If he continues to show the ability to contribute on offense and special teams, he could force the Bengals to make a tough decision elsewhere.
Charlie Jones: Jones has plenty of experience in the Bengals’ offense and has been a valuable return option, but the emergence of Tinsley, Dohnte Meyers, and Ke’Shawn Williams has made the receiver/returner competition one to monitor closely.
Jack Endries: Endries is another player who has made the roster conversation more interesting. The tight end competition is crowded, and the Bengals will have to determine how many players they want to carry at the position versus using those roster spots elsewhere.
The Final Roster Is Coming Into Focus
The next several days should provide the Bengals’ coaching staff with its final opportunity to evaluate players before the regular season begins. While some roster spots have essentially been decided, the bottom of the roster is where things become particularly fascinating.
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For players on the bubble, one play can make the difference between making the 53-man roster and finding themselves on the practice squad or looking for another opportunity.
And for the Bengals, those decisions could prove particularly important.
Cincinnati has legitimate aspirations of returning to the postseason — and perhaps making a much deeper run than that. With Burrow openly talking about manifesting a Super Bowl and the betting market giving the Bengals a legitimate chance to win the AFC North, the margin for error is getting smaller.
Now comes the difficult part:
Deciding which 53 players give Cincinnati its best chance to make that happen.
This tracker will be updated as the Bengals make their roster decisions.
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