Bengals: Carlos Dunlap has to be gone within the week

The Cincinnati Bengals simply have no choice but to move on from veteran defensive end Carlos Dunlap before the week is up.

As if a back-breaking loss to the Cleveland Browns weren’t enough for the Cincinnati Bengals, Carlos Dunlap added to the chaos on Twitter after the game. Just moments after the defense gave up 37 points, costing the AFC North matchup, the veteran defensive end requested inquires for his residence in Ohio.

It’s an ironic stance, considering Dunlap has had inexplicable penalties in each of the past two weeks and produced next to nothing when he was on the field. Regardless, he’s given the front office no other choice but to cut ties.

Cincinnati can’t go into next Sunday’s game with Carlos Dunlap rostered

The Bengals would be foolish to enter next week’s contest against the Tennessee Titans with Carlos Dunlap in stripes. He’s clearly become a distraction and there’s no telling the kind of damage he’s doing to the locker room.

The trade deadline is lurking and obviously getting something in return for the aging and disgruntled Dunlap would be preferred. However, the Bengals organization is unlikely to get anything in the terms of draft capital given the manner with which Dunlap has handled the situation.

At this point, cutting him may be the only option. If that’s the course of action they’re forced to take, the club would save just under $7M this year and would have an additional $11M on the open market in 2021. That money would certainly be better utilized on an offensive lineman rather than an underperforming backup defensive lineman.

While Dunlap is drawing the ire of the fan base currently, the coaching staff cannot escape blame in this situation either. They’ve mishandled numerous situations and the list of players speaking up about it is growing by the day. Their performances on and off the field simply have to be better if they’re going to remain in their positions.

As Cincinnati attempts to put a stop to a season spiraling out of control, they turn their focus to their week eight matchup against the Tennessee Titans.