Bengals cut veteran linebacker Preston Brown

The Bengals have decided to part ways with veteran linebacker Preston Brown, per sources. This comes two days after rookie Germaine Pratt got the starting nod over him against Baltimore.

Preston Brown looked like a solid fit for this Bengals team, but this move seems like it needed to happen.  Rookie Germaine Pratt’s role can now more easily be expanded as the season wears on.

Brown went to high school in Cincinnati. He led the league in tackles with the Bills in 2017. However, he had struggled to stay on the field and healthy since joining his hometown team prior to the 2018 season. He played in just 16 games over a little less than two seasons in the stripes. Free agent signings are rare in Cincinnati. It is fair to say this one didn’t work out like anyone involved had hoped it would.

Brown was averaging nearly $5,500,000 per year and had two years remaining on his contract. This move appears to gain cap space coming into next season.

Pratt has apparently showed the front office and coaching staff  that he is the guy at middle linebacker going forward. Pratt had only four tackles against the Ravens, but had some impressive stops. I like giving the rookie more snaps at this point in the season.  The Bengals have nothing to lose by getting a closer look at young players.

At 0-9, it is time to take a step back and find out who is already in the building that is going to be a key player for this franchise in the future. That process will continue for the rest of 2019, likely throughout the entire roster. It appears Pratt will get the start again this week against the Raiders in Oakland.