Bengals signal three, lower two others days earlier than coaching camp

Whereas it was initially thought that Ridder could be battling incumbent quarterback Logan Woodside for the QB3 position behind Joe Burrow and Jake Browning, Woodside was one of many gamers launched Sunday in Cincinnati. A seventh-round choose for the Bengals again in 2018, Woodside did not make the preliminary 53-man roster in his rookie yr and opted to signal to the Titans’ apply squad. In 5 seasons with the Titans, two with the Falcons, and final yr again with the Bengals, Woodside has solely tried seven passes in his NFL profession. With Woodside out, if Ridder is competing for something, it’s the QB2 position.

The opposite participant faraway from the roster was offensive guard Tashawn Manning, an undrafted participant that initially signed with the Ravens out of Kentucky in 2023. He spent his rookie season on the apply squad in Baltimore, and after getting waived in closing roster cuts once more in 2024, he opted to signal to the Bengals’ P-squad. After failing to make it to a gameday roster for the second yr in a row, Manning signed a reserve/futures cope with Cincinnati, however Sunday he heads again to the waiver wire.

Of the three new gamers becoming a member of Ridder as signees Sunday, essentially the most notable is veteran defensive deal with Taven Bryan. The Bengals’ protection largely price them in 2024, as they missed the playoffs regardless of large performances from Burrow and the offense. With uncertainty persevering with to encompass the scenario with No. 17 general choose Shemar Stewart, the addition of Bryan and fellow defensive deal with McTelvin Agim could possibly be a type of insurance coverage.

Bryan, a first-round choose for the Jaguars again in 2018, has had an up-and-down profession by means of seven years within the league. After restricted day without work the bench in his rookie season, Bryan seemed the half in his sophomore marketing campaign, beginning eight video games and logging profession highs in complete tackles (33), tackles for loss (5), and quarterback hits (9) that also stand immediately, together with two sacks. Professional Soccer Focus graded him that yr because the twenty third finest inside defender out of 116 gamers graded on the place.

Since then, although, Bryan has by no means graded greater than sixtieth, per PFF. He began eight video games once more in 2020 earlier than the Jaguars made him strictly rotational within the closing yr of his rookie contract. He signed a one-year contract with the Browns after that and began 16 video games in Cleveland, posting a brand new profession excessive with three sacks. He performed the final two seasons in Indianapolis beginning 13 of 34 recreation appearances for the Colts.

Agim is a former third-round choose for the Broncos that by no means actually panned out. In his third yr in Denver, he did not make the 53-man roster and was launched from the apply squad in December. Although he’s discovered apply squad spots all through the AFC South within the years since, Agim has solely appeared in a single recreation over the previous three seasons. Bryan’s signing has an opportunity to enhance the staff’s protection, and Agim provides some depth, nevertheless it’s arduous to not learn extra into the signing of two defensive tackles amidst the Stewart controversy.

The final participant added to the roster Sunday was middle Andrew Raym. An undrafted middle out of Oklahoma final yr, Raym made the Panthers preliminary 53-man roster as a rookie however was waived after showing in just one recreation and signed to Carolina’s apply squad. He signed a reserve/futures cope with the staff in January however was waived once more in Could. 

With undrafted rookie middle Seth McLaughlin nonetheless working his approach again from a late-season torn Achilles tendon, Raym will help in camp as a 3rd middle behind Ted Karras and Matt Lee.