Lavelle Westbrooks and J.K. Schaffer Clear Waivers

Dec 22, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) runs through the arm tackle of Cincinnati Bengals linebacker J.K. Schaffer (50) in the game at Paul Brown Stadium. Cincinnati Bengals beat the Minnesota Vikings by the score of 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowksi-USA TODAY Sports

As of today, recently released Bengal players Lavelle Westbrooks and J.K. Schaffer cleared waivers and have been placed on the Bengals’ Injured Reserve list.

Westbrooks was the Bengals final pick in this year’s draft.  A cornerback out of Georgia Southern, Westbrooks would’ve had a hard time making this roster no matter how well he did.  The Bengals secondary is loaded and is one of the most effective units in the league.  Westbrooks is talented and will get another chance at the roster in 2015 when Terence Newman will assumedly be gone (he’s in the final year of his deal in 2014 and is 35 years old).

Schaffer is a local favorite having gone to La Salle high school in Cincinnati after growing up in the Queen City.  He went on to play his college football at the University of Cincinnati and has been with the Bengals since 2012 after being released by the Jaguars and Buccaneers.  Schaffer has played well for the Bengals in the past, but is strictly a middle linebacker offering no versatility outside of this role; the Bengals already have one of those in Rey Maualuga.  Unfortunately with the Bengals linebacking core getting deeper by the year, it looks as is Schaffer may never make their final roster.