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Bengals 53-man roster projection before 2022 training camp kicks off

By Leigh Oleszczak

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) dances with the offense after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 12 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. The Bengals beat the Steelers 41-10.Pittsburgh Steelers At Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) dances with the offense after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 12 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. The Bengals beat the Steelers 41-10.Pittsburgh Steelers At Cincinnati Bengals /
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Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson – Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Linemen (10)

  • Starters: Trey Hendrickson, B.J. Hill, Sam Hubbard, D.J. Reader
  • Reserves: Zach Carter, Khalid Kareem, Joseph Ossai, Cam Sample, Tyler Shelvin, Josh Tupou

It makes sense to stack the trenches on both sides of the ball. The starters were easy to include but the reserves, not so much. The Bengals might be in a position where they’re forced to exclude their past two seventh-round picks, Wyatt Hubert and Jeff Gunter. Hubert missed his entire rookie season due to injury.

Linebackers (5)

  • Logan Wilson
  • Germaine Pratt
  • Akeem Davis-Gaither
  • Markus Bailey
  • Joe Bachie

The Bengals likely roster five linebackers and four of those spots are easy to fill. I ultimately included Bachie here because he outperformed Clay Johnston last season. UDFA Carson Wells is someone to keep an eye on in the preseason, however. Bachie’s spot isn’t guaranteed by any means.

Secondary (11)

  • Tycen Anderson
  • Eli Apple
  • Chidobe Awuzie
  • Jessie Bates
  • Vonn Bell
  • Jalen Davis
  • Tre Flowers
  • Daxton Hill
  • Mike Hilton
  • Cam Taylor-Britt

This feels pretty easy to project. All three drafted rookies are making the team, as are the starters from a season ago. Flowers impressed against some of the best tight ends in the league so he feels like an easy inclusion here.