How the Cincinnati Bengals narrowed their roster down to 53 players

At one point in the 2019 preseason, it looked like the Cincinnati Bengals would start Cordy Glenn, Michael Jordan, Billy Price, John Miller and Bobby Hart on the offensive line during the regular season.

Just two years later, none of those players are on the Bengals roster.

The Bengals finalized their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday, and Cincinnati gave up two of its longest-tenured offensive linemen. The Bengals traded Price to the New York Giants on Monday, and they cut Jordan to make room for offensive tackle Isaiah Prince.

The Bengals cut 27 players, including running back Jacques Patrick, running back Pooka Williams Jr., wide receiver Trent Taylor, tight end Mason Schreck, and defensive tackle Mike Daniels. 

The Bengals opted to keep 10 offensive linemen, finalizing a near-complete turnover over the last three seasons. Jordan started 19 games with the Bengals and was one of the team’s biggest investments in an offensive guard as a fourth round pick. Jordan lost his starting spot after quarterback Joe Burrow’s knee injury last season.

Jordan started the preseason opener and consistently earned first team reps, but head coach Zac Taylor said Jordan’s play wasn’t consistent enough to keep a role on the team.

After the Bengals traded Price, rookie center Trey Hill will be Trey Hopkins’ backup at that position. Fred Johnson will be the Bengals backup swing tackle, and rookies Jackson Carman and D’Ante Smith can provide depth off the bench.

MOSS DOESN’T MAKE IT: Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons has said the competition to be the team’s third tight end would be impacted by who played well on special teams. 

Even though tight end Thaddeus Moss was the best receiver in the Bengals final preseason game and had 44 receiving yards, the Bengals kept tight end Mitchell Wilcox as their third tight end.

Following the Dolphins game, quarterback Joe Burrow called Moss a potentially big part of the team.

“I just know where Thaddeus is gonna be,” Burrow said. “I know exactly what Thaddeus is going to do and I know he's going to be open, so Thaddeus is a guy that works really, really hard and gets better every single day.”

Instead of keeping Moss, the Bengals kept Wilcox, who has been better on special teams and made a few notable catches during training camp.

DEFENSIVE LINE SHAKEUP: The Bengals traded Price for defensive tackle B.J. Hill, and Hill took the roster spot of defensive tackle Mike Daniels.

The Bengals added Daniels as a three-technique tackle before the start of the 2020 season, but he didn’t record a sack last season. Daniels, who didn’t play in the preseason finale, lost his role on the roster when the Bengals added a better pass-rushing defensive tackle.

GOING WITH THE ROOKIE KICKER: Evan McPherson, the Bengals fifth round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, put a bow on his standout preseason with a booming 57-yard kick to end the first half on Sunday. McPherson cleared the crossbar with room to spare, and his kick would have tied the longest kick in franchise history had it taken place in the regular season.

With McPherson established as the starting kicker, the Bengals released Austin Seibert. He joined the Bengals after the first week of the 2020 season as Randy Bullock injured both of his calves. 

Seibert received playing time down the stretch of the 2020 season and made six kicks, but he lost the kicking battle to McPherson.

ONE FEWER RUNNING BACK: While Patrick showed his potential as a physical, downhill runner during the preseason, the Bengals opted to carry just three running backs on their initial 53-man roster. 

Patrick was the Bengals most productive running back in the preseason with 156 total rushing yards, but rookie Chris Evans offered more versatility out of the backfield as the team’s third running back. Evans caught the coaching staff’s attention with his ability as a receiver out of the backfield, and he backed up his reputation with a standout training camp and a highlight touchdown catch against the Dolphins.

The Bengals also cut 2019 sixth round pick Trayveon Williams. He played a role on special teams for most of the 2019 season and received an opportunity at running back in the last few games of the 2020 season.

Williams had a 55-yard run in the last game of the 2020 season, but he didn’t get the chance to build on that in the 2021 preseason. He missed the first two preseason games with a hamstring injury and was limited for most of training camp.