The Cincinnati Bengals appear to be among the healthiest teams in the NFL entering Week 8. With the exception of a select few reserve players, Cincinnati has all their core players available for Sunday's tilt against the Tennessee Titans.
What's wild is that the Bengals could be even better if 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart could ever put it together. Alas, he was a healthy scratch in Week 7's win at Baltimore, which led me to believe he's expendable before the trade deadline.
While Cincinnati hasn't given any hint that Stewart will be on the move, it's getting close to that point where he needs to play to show he belongs. Alas, I believe he'll headline the inactives sheet once again despite the golden opportunity to log some reps against the inferior 1-6 Titans.
Bengals predicted Week 8 inactives list
- S Kyle Dugger
- OT Myles Hinton
- LB Jack Kiser
- C Connor Lew
- DT Landon Robinson
- DE Shemar Stewart
The lack of injuries gives the Bengals some flexibility on who they can deploy. Kyle Dugger is already ruled out with that nagging quad injury, which is a shame, because Cincinnati is quite thin at safety and Jordan Battle is dealing with a bad hammy but will for sure play.
Myles Hinton is a backup swing tackle to Javon Foster, and Connor Lew is a center only, whereas Jacob Bayer is an occasional extra o-lineman in the running game and is more versatile. Thus, it's easy to rule out Hinton and Lew on a weekly basis until further notice.
It's a bummer that Landon Robinson can't get on the active list. He could add a wrinkle to the running game as a fullback similar to how Bayer does as a glorified inline tight end. Alas, the Bengals are rolling with Kris Jenkins Jr. as the last rotational defensive tackle until further notice.
And that leaves us at Shemar Stewart. Oof. If you're the 17th overall pick at a high-impact position and you can't get on the field, that's kind of pathetic on the player's part, or it's a reflection of how good the team is at your position.
With Stewart it's a bit of both, combined with the fact that he missed basically all of training camp due to a hyperextended knee. Between stud free agent Boye Mafe, incumbent Myles Murphy, dynamic rookie Cashius Howell, and Cedric Johnson, Cincinnati has a stellar quartet of defensive ends, which has left Stewart out in the cold.
The last inactive spot should be close between rookie tight end Jack Endries and linebacker Jack Kiser. However, in light of Erick All Jr.'s latest ACL injury, Endries will likely get the nod to be active.
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