The Cincinnati Bengals took a flier on a relatively obscure CFL player in Dohnte Meyers to compete for a roster spot this year in a crowded wide receiver room led by Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Although Meyers' journey up the depth chart is still a steep climb, he's acquitted himself very well thus far on and off the field.
Meyers put his best foot forward in the Bengals' 16-14 win over the Detroit Lions to begin the preseason. He had three receptions for 29 yards, showed off excellent route-running and wiggle after the catch, and even tossed in a 13-yard run.
In addition to being a dynamic slot wideout, Meyers is listed on Cincinnati's depth chart as a return man, albeit No. 3 in the punt return pecking order behind Charlie Jones and Ke'Shawn Williams.
But to be honest, I feel like I've heard more positive vibes from Meyers than Jones and Williams combined in their multiple years with the Bengals. No offense to them. It's just the truth of it.
Beyond the viral off-field story, Meyers is a certified technician on the grass
Earlier in camp, Dohnte Meyers hauled in a back-shoulder throw from Joe Burrow, and Bengals radio man Dan Hoard passed along this quote from offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher:
"There’s a lot to like about Dohnte...He’s diligent, he cares, he’s got real juice, he can separate, and he catches the ball well. He’s just got to stack days and then, when he gets a chance, make the plays. For the most part, he’s done that.”
That's the type of chemistry that takes real reps to build. Hence why Burrow probably felt compelled to share that Meyers once drove through the night from Atlanta to Cincinnati just so he could work with the Bengals' star QB.
"I'm not going to let him outwork me. If he's ready to throw, I'm ready to catch."
— Jaron May (@jaron_may) August 14, 2026
Dohnte Meyers left Atlanta at midnight and drove through the night to throw with Joe Burrow before training camp.
This year's camp favorite has emerged.@WLWT pic.twitter.com/WR89PTS5fI
This is how you earn opportunities and the trust of your quarterback. it says a lot that Burrow felt compelled to shout out Meyers publicly. That alone is enough to fuel the Meyers hype train!
The starters should see their most action in Week 2's preseason duel with the Chicago Bears, but Meyers is bound to get at least some run in that contest. His real showcase will be the preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, whose two-, three-deep depth chart is better than most thanks to the elite roster building done by multiple Super Bowl-winning GM Howie Roseman.
It'd be a bummer to see Meyers not get enough reps in Week 2 of the preseason and get prematurely waived. He's shown enough to merit an extended look.
Just watch the reel assembled by Bengals & Brews on X/Twitter and tell me Dohnte Meyers looks any worse than any Bengals receiver not named Chase or Higgins.
OK maybe that's a bit disrespectful to Andrei Iosivas and even rookie fourth-rounder Colbie Young, but still. You're telling me Meyers can't beat out the likes of Mitchell Tinsley or Charlie Jones for that WR5 gig?
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