Bengals Make Several Acquisitions to Start August
By Jack Lane
Nothing notable has happened since the Bengals waived LaFell, but they have made some roster changes that have gone under the radar.
The Bengals have yet to make any serious roster moves this month, aside from waiving veteran wide receiver Brandon LaFell. They don’t have to make the cuts for the final roster yet, so there won’t be any drastic moves for a little bit. However, that hasn’t stopped the Bengals from making a few changes to the roster in the month of August.
On the same day the team waived LaFell, they also cut undrafted free agent Ja’Von Rolland-Jones. Rolland-Jones, a pass rusher from Arkansas St., was always a long shot to get on the final roster. The Bengals have incredible depth at defensive end, especially at pass rusher, so there just wasn’t room for him to make the team. Still, it’s a surprise to see Rolland-Jones gone so early – I thought he was one of the most talented UDFA’s on the roster.
A couple days later, the team added a few more free agents to the mix. We already discussed the additions of CJ Goodwin and Eddy Wilson, but the Bengals signed G/C Cory Helms and WR Kayaune Ross. Helms and Ross are both still long shots to make the roster.
Helms, a UDFA from South Carolina, was on the Saints until they waived him. Because of his position, he will get a crack to make this roster. It’s possible he’ll end up as the backup center to Billy Price. Unfortunately, his stay in Cincinnati will likely be short. Similarly, Ross is a UDFA from Kentucky who probably won’t stick on the team, either. He’s not even the most talented wide receiver named Ross on the roster.
After the game against Chicago, the Bengals made a couple more cuts, waiving OT Austin Fleer and RB Ray Lawry. Neither Fleer nor Lawry was expected to make the roster as UDFAs. Fleer, one of the initial UDFA signings from Colorado-Mesa, saw his chances to make the roster go up once Rod Taylor got hurt. It still wasn’t enough to avoid getting cut, though.
Lawry, similarly, was one of the initial UDFAs the Bengals signed. Coming out of Old Dominion, Lawry didn’t have any particular skill that would help him stick in the NFL. He only got one carry versus Chicago, and seemed destined to be among the first cuts. Lawry was going to struggle making the roster over many other talented running backs on this Bengals roster.