The Cincinnati Bengals’ 2026 roster is officially locked in, but man, Zac Taylor and Duke Tobin had some seriously tough calls to make. This isn’t just a few fringe guys either; we’re talking about players who absolutely balled out, only to find themselves on the outside looking in. After a dominant 3-0 preseason run, capped by a 30-13 demolition of the Eagles, depth became a “problem” for the coaching staff.
Isaiah Foskey’s Preseason Dominance Wasn’t Enough
Honestly, this one still stings. Isaiah Foskey wasn’t just decent during the preseason; he was *really good*. The former Notre Dame standout had a phenomenal training camp and then backed it up with 11 pressures and three sacks across the preseason games. In the finale against Philadelphia, he racked up 1.5 sacks in just the first half alone! Zac Taylor even highlighted Foskey when he talked about the guys playing virtually every defensive snap up front. So, what happened? It was a brutal “numbers game.” With Boye Mafe, Myles Murphy, Cashius Howell, and Shemar Stewart all vying for edge snaps, and Stewart’s knee situation helping him secure a 53-man spot, Foskey became the odd man out. You know he’s gonna be one of the hottest pickups on the waiver wire, right? That’s a testament to how well he played.
Charlie Jones’ Shocking Exit From Return Duties
This might be the biggest head-scratcher on the offensive side of the ball. For two straight seasons, Charlie Jones was a primary return specialist for Cincinnati. He came into this preseason with a solid case to keep that role. And what did he do against Philadelphia? He balled out, returning three punts for 44 yards, including a sweet 31-yarder, plus two catches for 36 yards. But the Bengals decided Ke’Shawn Williams could handle the return duties while bringing a different skillset at receiver. The official word is Williams takes over returns, and Jones was waived. This isn’t small potatoes; Jones wasn’t just some fringe guy. He was the primary kickoff returner and a super reliable special teams weapon. Cincinnati clearly felt that roster spot was better used elsewhere. They are definitely gonna try to get him back if he clears waivers, I’m sure of it. Even quarterback Josh Johnson had a preseason that Zac Taylor thought “couldn’t go much better.”
So, as the regular season kicks off, these moves show just how much depth Cincinnati has. It’s a good problem to have, keeping all seven of their 2026 draft picks, five tight ends, six wide receivers, and 11 defensive linemen. But man, you gotta feel for these guys who left it all out there. It makes you wonder what kind of impact these decisions will have on their special teams and defensive rotations when the games actually count.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply