The Cincinnati Bengals are looking pretty darn healthy entering their season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, as stacked as this 53-man roster is, a maximum of only 48 fellas can suit up as actives.
As the Bengals make their tougher-than-usual inactives decisions today, Shemar Stewart is almost certain not to go as he continues to nurse an injury suffered in training camp. The good news is, it looked a lot worse than it was, and Stewart's freaky athleticism kept him off injured reserve.
So while Stewart should be the Bengals' indubitable headliner amongst their inactives, there will be more. I have a feeling I'll be more than a little disappointed in some of them.
Bengals predicted Week 1 inactives list
- TE Jack Endries
- OT Myles Hinton
- OL Jalen Rivers
- DT Landon Robinson
- DE Shemar Stewart
Shemar Stewart is listed as doubtful. It's a bummer for the 2025 first-round pick who just didn't have the wherewithal to be competent as a rookie. Stewart has all the talent in the world. No need for him to rush back with such a deep defensive line in Cincinnati.
My guy Landon Robinson is almost certainly going to get snubbed by Kris Jenkins Jr. for the last available spot in the d-tackle rotation. It makes me sad, but I'm ready for the disappointment.
The only reason for Jenkins playing over Robinson is because the former was a 2024 second-round pick, and Robinson is a rookie seventh-rounder. I believe Robinson is the better player already and it isn't particularly close. Time will tell if he gets the chance to prove it. Otherwise, anticipate more nothing-burger rotational snaps from Jenkins in the season opener. CAN'T WAIT!
Since Myles Hinton got here after 53-man roster cuts, Javon Foster should be the active swing tackle. You could argue for ineffective utility guy Jalen Rivers to be active in case of total disaster in that department, but I'd much rather have Jacob Bayer up, because he looks like he can actually play guard.
Another Tom Holland/Peter Parker-Zendaya/MJ-certified, "expect disappointment so you'll never be disappointed" pick: Rookie tight end Jack Endries.
Endries is a stud. He's a willing blocker and showed that in college. He caught passes from Fernando Mendoza and Arch Manning. The big stage doesn't faze him. Why he fell to the seventh round of the draft is beyond me.
Why the Bengals keep giving Drew Sample significant snaps is also beyond me. Yet it will keep happening until somebody marches into Bengals HQ and stages an intervention with Duke Tobin and/or Zac Taylor.
DREW ISN'T EVEN A CAPTAIN. HE'S A SUPPOSED FIRST-STRING PLAYER AND THE LONGEST-TENURED PLAYER ON THE ROSTER AND HE'S STILLLLLLLLLLL NOT EVEN A CAPTAIN!!! WHAT ARE WE DOING!?!?!?!?!? MAKE IT STOP!!!!! WAKE UP!!!!!
Wow. Sorry. Don't know what came over me just then. Does anyone else get triggered that the Bengals are totally lighting a roster spot on fire every single year? Just me? Got it.
Anyway, let's not let that CAPS-LOCK paragraph kill the vibe for Week 1. WHO DEY BABY, WE ARE HERE!!!
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