The Bengals just locked in their initial 53-man roster as of August 30, 2026, making some massive calls across the board. This is where teams show their hand for the early season.
The Quarterback Gamble
Talk about a statement. Quarterbacks Josh Johnson and Sean Clifford are both gone. Johnson’s release was reported earlier Sunday, and Clifford got waived, leaving veteran Joe Flacco as the *only* quarterback on the active roster behind Joe Burrow. That’s a significant show of faith in Flacco’s ability to step up if Burrow ever needs a breather. It says a lot about what the coaching staff thinks of their depth at the most crucial position on the field. They are all in on this group.
Who Else Got Cut?
The roster churn was real, with a huge list of players getting waived or released. The running back room saw Gary Brightwell, Kentrel Bullock, Jamal Haynes, and Kendall Milton all depart. Defensive backs Daijahn Anthony, Jalen Kimber, Bralyn Lux, Matthew McDoom, Ceyair Wright, and Russ Yeast are out, alongside linebackers Liam Anderson, Jack Dingle, Joe Giles-Harris, Eric Gentry, and Shaka Heyward. On the offensive line, Liam Brown, Andrew Coker, Christian Jones, and Corey Robinson got the news, while defensive linemen Howard Cross III, Isaiah Foskey, McKinnley Jackson, Jordan Jefferson, and Antwaun Powell-Ryland are no longer with the team. Wide receivers Xavier Johnson, Charlie Jones, Jordan Moore, Kendric Pryor, Noah Thomas, and Mitch Tinsley were also waived or released, as were tight ends Cam Grandy and Josh Kattus.
Adding to the list of departures, guard Brian Parker and cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor were placed on injured reserve. The good news for them and the team is that both players are eligible to return after missing just four games. That’s a small silver lining amidst all the changes.
With the initial 53 set, the Bengals are now focused on getting their core ready. Every team faces these tough decisions, and it shows the kind of depth and competition they’ve got going into the season. The early season form is everything, and these roster moves speak volumes about who they trust to deliver.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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