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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Expected to be franchise tagged
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 1:53 PM
The Bengals are expected to apply the franchise tag to Higgins (ankle), the window for which will officially open Tuesday and last until March 4, James Rapien of SI.com reports.
Analysis: Higgins played on the franchise tag in 2024, when he managed a 73-911-10 line on 109 targets across 12 regular-season games, posting double-digit touchdowns for the first time in his career. Quarterback Joe Burrow already has made his desire for Higgins to be retained clear, per Michael Baca of NFL.com, and the franchise tag could act as a first step for both sides to negotiate a long-term deal. Were he to hit the free-agent market, Higgins would be the top available option at the wide receiver position, if not across the board. Higgins would carry a one-year salary of $26.17 million were he to play out 2025 on the franchise tag. |
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Jermaine Burton Jermaine Burton Records four receptions as rookie
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 11:25 PM
Burton notched four catches on 14 targets for 107 yards over 14 regular-season games in 2024. He added 378 yards on 13 kick returns.
Analysis: After being selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Burton got limited run in his first pro campaign. He was inefficient in catching balls thrown his way, though he did show an ability to make big plays, as two of his four catches went for over 40 yards. Late in the campaign, Burton took over as the Bengals' primary kick returner and showed significant promise in that role, averaging 29.1 yards per return. The Alabama product was held out of the Bengals' regular-season finale due to an off-the-field event, and though that isn't expected to carry over into next season, Burton was also benched for a game earlier in the season for disciplinary reasons. He'll likely need to make a better impression on and off the field in order to have a chance to grow in the Bengals' offense next year. |
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Jake Browning Jake Browning Works only in mop-up duty in 2024
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 11:08 PM
Browning didn't throw a pass over three regular-season games in 2024. He rushed twice for minus-2 yards.
Analysis: A season-ending injury to Joe Burrow in Week 11 of 2023 gave Browning an opportunity for substantial playing time, but Burrow remained healthy throughout 2024, and Browning consequently spent almost the entire campaign on the bench. Browning signed a two-year contract with Cincinnati last April, so he's slated to work as Burrow's backup again next season. |
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Joe Burrow Joe Burrow Wins Comeback Player of the Year
Thu, Feb 6, 2025, 8:36 PM
Burrow was named the 2024 NFL Comeback Player of the Year on Thursday, Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Burrow had a resurgent 2024 campaign after missing seven games in 2023 due to a wrist injury. This season, the quarterback completed 71 percent of his passes for an NFL-high 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns, while throwing nine interceptions over 17 regular-season games. Burrow also added 201 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. |
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Mitchell Tinsley Mitchell Tinsley Heading to Cincinnati
Tue, Feb 4, 2025, 2:09 PM
The Bengals signed Tinsley to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Tinsley spent his first two years in the league with Washington, but now he'll have a chance to make a positive impression on a new coaching staff in Cincinnati. He has just three regular-season offensive snaps under his belt going into 2025. |
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Erick All Erick All In danger of missing season
Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 12:06 PM
All (knee) is a candidate to miss the entire 2025 campaign due to the right ACL tear he sustained in early November, Paul Dehner of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The tight end previously tore the ACL in college during the 2023 season at Iowa, creating complications with the latest injury that will require two surgeries to correct. The first procedure has already been performed, and the second is set to happen in the coming months, at which point a normal recovery process can begin. All managed to impress in his nine appearances (six starts) as a rookie, securing 20 of 22 targets for 158 yards. He isn't expected to have any further issues with his right knee following the surgeries. |
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Cam Grandy Cam Grandy Signs one-year extension
Tue, Jan 21, 2025, 11:13 AM
The Bengals inked Grandy to a one-year contract extension Tuesday.
Analysis: Grandy suited up for eight regular-season games as an undrafted rookie with Cincinnati, and in that span he secured all five of his targets for 28 yards. Down the stretch, the former practice-squad player managed to carve out a consistent depth role. He's now earned an opportunity to continue his development in the Bengals' tight end corps heading into the 2025 season. |
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Trayveon Williams Trayveon Williams Zero carries all season
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 1:12 PM
Williams played just one offensive snap in the Bengals' season finale against the Steelers and didn't have a carry or target, despite Chase Brown sitting the game out.
Analysis: In fact, Williams didn't net a single carry nor target all season long, playing just 10 offensive snaps all season. He last had a kickoff return in Week 4 against the Panthers. Unless the Bengals value his kick and punt coverage, he's unlikely to be a part of their future. |
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Cam Grandy Cam Grandy Small late-season contributions
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 12:52 PM
Grandy caught one pass for nine yards in the season finale against the Steelers, giving him five catches on the season.
Analysis: The former practice-squad player was elevated first in Week 10 against the Ravens and essentially served as a fourth tight end for a Bengals team that used their tight ends a lot more than they had in previous seasons. |
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Tanner Hudson Tanner Hudson Sparsely used
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 12:49 PM
Hudson played just three offensive snaps in the Bengals' season-ending win over the Steelers, catching one pass for 11 yards.
Analysis: Hudson was squarely behind Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample at tight end on the Bengals' depth chart. He caught 19 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown over 11 games, falling off quite a bit from 2023 when he had more than twice as many targets. Gesicki stayed relatively healthy this season, as opposed to 2023, when Irv Smith's extended absences afforded Hudson more opportunity. |
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Drew Sample Drew Sample Four receptions in finale
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 12:47 PM
Sample tied a season-high with four catches in Saturday's Week 18 win over the Steelers, netting just 14 yards. For the season Sample caught 20 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown across 17 games.
Analysis: Sample has been a blocking-first tight end for most of his career, dating back to his college days at the University of Washington. This season falls sharply in line with his career production. |
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Kendric Pryor Kendric Pryor Signs futures deal with Bengals
Tue, Jan 7, 2025, 4:47 PM
Cincinnati signed Pryor to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Pryor was signed to the Bengals' practice squad Aug. 29 after failing to make the team's 53-man roster at the end of training camp. He was elevated to the active roster for three games (playing in two) and finished with one catch for nine yards, which came in Week 9 against the Raiders. Pryor will participate in OTAs and minicamp with the Bengals when the new league year begins March 12, and the 26-year-old wide receiver will spend the offseason working on earning a spot on the Bengals' roster for the 2025 season. |
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Gary Brightwell Gary Brightwell Staying in Cincinnati
Tue, Jan 7, 2025, 4:38 PM
The Bengals signed Brightwell to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Brightwell began the 2024 regular season on the Browns' active roster, playing in Week 3 and 4 and posting 36 kick-return yards while contributing exclusively on special teams. He was cut from Cleveland's active roster Oct. 1, and after two separate stints on the Browns' practice squad, he opted to sign with the Bengals' practice squad Nov. 11. He didn't end up playing for Cincinnati during the regular season, but he will be part of the Bengals' 90-man roster once the league year starts March 12. |
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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Tending to high-ankle sprain
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 6:39 AM
Higgins disclosed after exiting in the second half of Saturday's 19-17 win over the Steelers that he is tending to a left high-ankle sprain, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: Higgins has taken questionable tags into the Bengals' past two games with both ankle and knee injury, though it's the former issue that has been the greater concern. Despite managing the high-ankle sprain, Higgins produced a monstrous 11-131-3 line on 12 targets in a Week 17 overtime win over Denver, but he was limited to four catches for 53 yards on five targets while playing 50 of 74 offensive snaps Saturday before seemingly aggravating the injury late in the contest and not returning. Higgins said after Saturday's game that he plans to play through the ankle injury if Cincinnati clinches a spot on the postseason, with the Bengals needing a Broncos loss to the Chiefs plus a Dolphins loss or tie against the Jets on Sunday to secure a wild-card berth. |
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Mike Gesicki Mike Gesicki Steps up in short-handed attack
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 10:53 PM
Gesicki secured eight of 10 targets for 68 yards in the Bengals' 19-17 win over the Steelers on Saturday night.
Analysis: Gesicki finished second in receptions, receiving yards and targets behind Ja'Marr Chase, as Tee Higgins' early exit due to an ankle injury helped boost the veteran tight end's involvement. Gesicki finished the regular season with a combined 18-154 line on 22 targets over the last two games, and his final 65-665-2 tally across 17 regular-season games featured his best catch and yardage totals since his 2021 season with Dolphins. If the Bengals are able to squeak into the postseason with a Broncos loss and Dolphins loss or tie Sunday, Gesicki figures to remain a solid complementary component of the air attack irrespective of Higgins' availability. |
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Khalil Herbert Khalil Herbert Solid in spot start Saturday
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 10:44 PM
Herbert rushed 20 times for 69 yards and brought in seven of eight targets for 14 yards in the Bengals' 19-17 win over the Steelers on Saturday night.
Analysis: Herbert got the spot start with Chase Brown (ankle) sidelined and shouldered quite the heavy workload after having combined for just eight carries since arriving in Cincinnati via trade with the Bears. Herbert unsurprisingly found tough sledding on the ground against the Steelers, but he was a steady presence in the passing game and finished third on the team in receptions and targets. If the Bengals are able to make their way into the postseason with help Sunday, Herbert would be in line to draw another start in the wild-card round if Brown remains sidelined. |
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Ja'Marr Chase Ja'Marr Chase Paces pass catchers in win
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 10:39 PM
Chase secured 10 of 14 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown in the Bengals' 19-17 win over the Steelers on Saturday night.
Analysis: Chase led the Bengals in receptions, receiving yards and targets on the night, although he worked for everything he got while averaging just 9.6 yards per grab. The star wideout also recorded his career-high 17th touchdown reception of the season on a 12-yard grab that capped the opening possession of the game, and his involvement also was boosted by the early exit of Tee Higgins (ankle). The Bengals still need a Broncos loss and Dolphins loss or tie Sunday in order to qualify for the postseason, but irrespective of whether or not Cincinnati earns a playoff spot, Chase made an airtight case for his long sought-after extension by posting a career-best 127-1,708-17 line over 17 regular-season games. |
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Joe Burrow Joe Burrow Grinds out critical victory
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 10:34 PM
Burrow completed 37 of 46 passes for 277 yards with one touchdown and one interception and rushed once for minus-1 yard in the Bengals' 19-17 win over the Steelers on Saturday night. He also fumbled once but possession remained with Cincinnati.
Analysis: Burrow fought through a typical AFC North slugfest against the aggressive Steelers defense, which sacked him four times. One of those takedowns in the third quarter caused Burrow's helmet to be driven into the ground and led to a concussion check, but the star signal-caller did not miss any time. Burrow connected with eight different pass catchers overall on the night, and although he saw an eight-game streak of multiple touchdown passes snapped, he kept the Bengals' slim playoff hopes, which now hinge on a loss by the Broncos and a loss or tie by the Dolphins on Sunday, alive. Burrow finishes the 2024 regular season with a career-high 4,918 passing yards and 43 passing touchdowns across 17 games. |
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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Questionable to return Saturday
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 9:25 PM
Higgins is questionable to return to Saturday night's game against the Steelers due to an ankle injury.
Analysis: Higgins came into Week 18 with an ankle injury but was deemed active after being listed as questionable to play. Prior to leaving at the end of the third quarter, Higgins caught four of five targets for 53 scoreless yards. If Higgins is unable to return, the offense should funnel even more through Ja'Marr Chase, while Andrei Iosivas, Isaiah Williams and Kendric Pryor round out the remainder of Cincinnati's wide receiver depth chart. |
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Khalil Herbert Khalil Herbert In line for leading role Saturday
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 6:00 PM
Herbert is in line to be the Bengals' primary running back Saturday in Pittsburgh with Chase Brown (ankle) inactive for that contest, Geoff Hobson of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Brown won't suit up one week removed from spraining his right ankle during last Saturday's overtime win against the Broncos. Since joining the Bengals at the trade deadline, Herbert has received spot duty in seven consecutive games prior to this Week 18 matchup, turning eight carries into 45 yards (5.6 YPC) and gathering in his only target for seven yards. Considering Cincinnati's other available RBs on Saturday are Trayveon Williams (no touches in 16 games) and undrafted rookie Kendall Milton (one appearance this season), Herbert appears poised to operate as a workhorse for a high-powered offense. |
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