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Andrei Iosivas Andrei Iosivas Limited output in Week 18
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 9:30 PM
Iosivas had two catches for 10 yards on three targets in Sunday's loss to the Browns. He ended the season with 33 catches for 435 yards and two touchdowns, falling short of his 2024 production in all three categories.
Analysis: Despite Iosivas playing every game and teammate Tee Higgins missing multiple games due to injury, Iosivas fell short of expectations this season, and not all of that was due to quarterback Joe Burrow missing eight games with a toe injury. The Bengals used fewer sets with wide receivers, but even that doesn't explain the drop-off for Iosivas, who actually played seven more offensive snaps than last season. Nonetheless, he's expected to return for another season as the Bengals' third receiver in 2026. |
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Cam Grandy Cam Grandy Signs extension with Cincinnati
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 6:09 PM
Grandy (chest) and the Bengals agreed on a one-year contract extension Monday.
Analysis: Grandy appeared in five contests during the regular season, catching both of his targets for seven yards while playing 28 snaps on offense. With Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample both under contract for 2026, Grandy will compete to operate as the team's No. 3 option at tight end next season. |
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Sean Clifford Sean Clifford Staying with Cincy in 2026
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 6:08 PM
The Bengals signed Clifford to a reserve/future contract Monday.
Analysis: Clifford spent most of the 2025 season on the Bengals' practice squad after failing to make the Packers' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. He did not appear in a regular-season game for Cincinnati but was briefly on the active roster to serve as the team's emergency quarterback for Weeks 9 and 11. The 2023 fifth-rounder has not appeared in a regular-season game in each of the last two years, but he'll remain with the Bengals organization and participate in offseason activities with an eye toward making the active roster for 2026. |
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Gary Brightwell Gary Brightwell Signs future deal with Cincinnati
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 6:05 PM
The Bengals signed Brightwell to a reserve/future contract Monday.
Analysis: Brightwell spent the entire 2025 regular season on the Bengals' practice squad after failing to make the team's 53-man roster at the end of training camp. He was elevated to the active roster for Weeks 12 and 13 against the Patriots and Ravens, respectively, and over those two games he returned four kickoffs for 83 yards. Brightwell will participate in offseason activities with the Bengals and look to compete for a spot on the active roster for the 2026 campaign. |
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Mitch Tinsley Mitch Tinsley Sticking around Cincinnati
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 6:05 PM
Tinsley and the Bengals agreed on a one-year contract extension Monday.
Analysis: Tinsley caught eight of 24 targets for 116 yards and two touchdowns over 17 contests during the regular season, and he'll now stick around Cincinnati for another year. The wide receiver will compete for a top reserve spot behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in 2026. |
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Noah Fant Noah Fant Another lost fumble
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 11:38 AM
Fant caught one pass for five yards in Sunday's loss to the Browns, but he coughed up that reception, and that fumble was returned for a touchdown for the third time this season.
Analysis: Fant's fumble was the perfect cap to a truly disappointing season, one where he caught 34 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns. The last of those scores came Week 9 against the Bears. He enters the offseason as a free agent after signing a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Bengals in July. |
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Mike Gesicki Mike Gesicki Minimal impact in finale
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 11:11 AM
Gesicki had two catches for 13 yards in Sunday's loss to the Browns, catching both of his targets. He finished the season with 28 catches for 307 yards and two touchdowns while playing 13 games.
Analysis: Gesicki didn't make the same impact as he did in 2024, when he caught 65 passes for 665 yards and two touchdowns. The Bengals made a point of bringing back Gesicki this past offseason, instead of continuing their practice of signing discount rental tight ends. Obviously, Joe Burrow's toe injury that forced him to miss eight games hurt Gesicki's production, as did the latter's pectoral injury. Gesicki will be back for the 2026 season. |
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Samaje Perine Samaje Perine Totals 52 yards in loss
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 10:47 PM
Perine rushed eight times for 42 yards and caught three of four targets for 10 yards in Cincinnati's 20-18 loss to the Browns on Sunday.
Analysis: Perine's eight carries were his fourth-most in a game this season, and the veteran running back wraps up the 2025 campaign with 382 yards and three touchdowns on 84 carries. He added 17 catches for 87 scoreless yards. Perine is under contract through 2026 on a $1.4 million salary. He'll turn 31 years old in September and likely isn't guaranteed to make the 53-man roster out of training camp next summer. |
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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Hits paydirt in Week 18 loss
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 5:00 PM
Higgins caught six of nine targets for 67 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-18 loss to the Browns.
Analysis: The 26-year-old wideout set a new career high with his 11th TD reception of the season on a 13-yard connection with Joe Burrow in the second quarter. Higgins missed time once again in 2025 due to injuries, but he still posted a 59-846-11 line on 98 targets over 15 games. Ja'Marr Chase's presence caps Higgins' volume, but he remains one of the most productive No. 2 WRs in the league. |
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Ja'Marr Chase Ja'Marr Chase Caps campaign with eighth TD
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 4:55 PM
Chase caught eight of 10 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-18 loss to the Browns.
Analysis: The superstar wideout fell just short of his eighth 100-yard performance of the season, but Chase did make his eighth trip to the end zone in 16 games with a four-yard toss from Joe Burrow in the fourth quarter. Chase wraps up 2025 with a 125-1,412-8 line on a career-high 185 targets, and his ability to continue posting elite numbers even with Burrow having missed half the year should keep him locked in as a first-round selection in 2026 fantasy drafts. |
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Chase Brown Chase Brown Finds end zone in season finale
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 4:51 PM
Brown carried the ball 13 times for 72 yards and caught four of six targets for 18 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-18 loss to the Browns.
Analysis: The rushing yardage gave Brown his first 1,000-yard campaign on the ground, while the first-quarter TD gave him a total of 11 on the season (six rushing, five receiving) to tie his career high. The third-year RB also set a new personal best with 1,456 scrimmage yards, and he'll head into the final year of his rookie contract in 2026 locked into the top spot in the Cincy backfield. |
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Joe Burrow Joe Burrow Tosses three TDs in Week 18 loss
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 4:46 PM
Burrow completed 29 of 39 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns with one interception in Sunday's 20-18 loss to the Browns. He added 17 rushing yards on two carries.
Analysis: The star quarterback hit all his biggest targets -- Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown -- for scores, but Evan McPherson had a rough day, getting one PAT blocked and missing his second before the Bengals failed to convert a two-point attempt on their final TD. Burrow wraps up a tough 2025 season with a 17:5 TD:INT in only eight games, the second time in the last three years he's missed significant time due to injuries. |
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Jake Browning Jake Browning Emergency QB again Week 18
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 10:38 AM
Browning (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's matchup against Cleveland and will work as Cincinnati's emergency third quarterback.
Analysis: This has become a familiar role for Browning, as he's been the Bengals' emergency third QB every week since late November. In order for Browning to enter Sunday's contest, both Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco would have to exit due to injury, illness or ejection. |
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Cam Grandy Cam Grandy Inactive for season finale
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 10:34 AM
Grandy (chest) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Browns.
Analysis: After not practicing Wednesday or Thursday, Grandy logged a full session Friday and was listed as questionable. However, that wasn't enough to be cleared for game action, and he'll miss a second consecutive contest to end the campaign. The undrafted tight end will finish his second NFL season with two receptions for seven yards across 28 offensive snaps. |
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Cam Grandy Cam Grandy Questionable for Sunday
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 3:12 PM
Grandy (chest) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Browns.
Analysis: Grandy was able to upgrade to full participation in Friday's practice after missing consecutive sessions earlier in the week. The upgrade in participation is a great sign for the tight end's chances of suiting up for Sunday's contest as a reserve option behind Mike Gesicki, Noah Fant, Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson. |
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Chase Brown Chase Brown Ready for Sunday
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 1:52 PM
Brown (illness) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game versus the Browns.
Analysis: Brown sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday due to an illness, but his return to the field Friday included no limitations, thereby clearing him to continue to lead the Bengals backfield Week 18. Since the team's Week 10 bye, he's reeled off 745 yards from scrimmage and seven total TDs in seven contests, and with QB Joe Burrow starting and no other key skill-position players expected to have a reduced workload Sunday, Brown should be good for his typical 60-plus percent snap share. |
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Charlie Jones Charlie Jones Out for Sunday
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 1:11 PM
Jones (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Browns, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The third-year wideout from Purdue didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday and is now in line to miss his third consecutive game due to an ankle injury. Jones appeared in 14 contests for Cincinnati this season, recording 1,084 kick-return yards and 115 punt-return yards. While he's sidelined in Week 18, expect Ke'Shawn Williams to operate as the Bengals' top return man. |
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Chase Brown Chase Brown Back at practice Friday
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 10:47 AM
Brown (illness) returned to practice Friday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: After missing practice both Wednesday and Thursday, Brown's return to the field Friday has him trending in the right direction as Sunday's season finale against the Browns approaches. The Bengals' final injury report of the season will relay whether Brown heads into the weekend with a designation or fully cleared for Week 18 action. |
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Chase Brown Chase Brown Misses another practice
Thu, Jan 1, 2026, 3:27 PM
Brown (illness) didn't practice Thursday.
Analysis: Following back-to-back 'DNPs,' the focus shifts to what -- if anything -- Brown is able to do in the Bengals' final practice of the season Friday. If he's limited or sidelined Sunday against the Browns, added snaps/touches would be available for fellow RBs Samaje Perine and Tahj Brooks. |
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Chase Brown Chase Brown Not spotted at start of practice
Thu, Jan 1, 2026, 1:49 PM
Brown (illness) wasn't spotted during the media-access portion of Thursday's practice, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Should Brown be officially deemed a 'DNP' on Thursday's injury report, he'll have one more opportunity to practice ahead of Sunday's season finale against the Browns. If the running back ends up sidelined this weekend, added backfield reps in Week 18 would be available for Samaje Perine and Tahj Brooks. |
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