The Bengals could sign some potential free agents to help the defensive front.
The Cincinnati Bengals were already paper thin at defensive tackles before their Week 2 game against the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium. Both rookie defensive tackles, Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson, are currently out, the latter being on IR.
So when BJ Hill left the game with a hamstring injury, the Bengals were even thinner. Then, later in the second half, fellow starting defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins left the game, also with a hamstring issue. The Bengals ended up finishing the game with Zach Carter and Jay Tufele at defensive tackle.
Not ideal.
Considering the state of the position, the Bengals are likely going to need to bring in outside help.
Here are some possibilities:
First, from the Bengals practice squad….
Domenique Davis
Don’t be surprised if the Bengals activate Davis as soon as they’re able, especially if news breaks that Hill and/or Rankins will miss significant time. If only one of them do, or if they’re both able to play in Week 3, even if they’re not at 100 percent, Davis could be enough.
Other practice squad options…..
Jowon Briggs, Browns practice squad
How cool would this be? The former Cincinnati Bearcat defensive tackle coming home to help the Bengals, leaving the Browns high and dry?
The Bengals can sign players off another team’s practice squad, but only to the active roster. Briggs shows some flash as an interior pass rusher, but is a little undersized at the position, and likely wouldn’t help much in run defense.
Available free agents
Fletcher Cox
Cox had a bounce-back season in 2023, and wrapped up an incredible 12-year career with the Eagles. He announced his retirement from the league in March of this year, but if he’s feeling the itch, there isn’t another team that could use his services more than the Bengals.
If he wants to lace them up for one last chance at another Super Bowl ring, Cincinnati’s likely his best bet. The question is what kind of shape is the 33-year-old defensive tackle in.
Bryan Mone
Mone hasn’t taken any snaps since he tore his ACL in Week 15 of the 2022 season while with the Seattle Seahawks. He was placed on IR and missed the rest of that season and the entire 2023 season. He was released by the Seahawks in March, but he signed with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas in August, so he’s possibly healthy now.
Chris Wormly
The former third-round pick from the 2017 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens has bounced around the league. Like Briggs, Wormly isn’t the biggest defensive tackle, but he showed some real promise at one time. He was eventually traded to the Steelers, where he was a rotational piece for a few seasons. He signed with the Carolina Panthers before the 2023 season and spent the majority of the season on the practice squad.
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When it comes to defensive tackles available to the Bengals as they head into Week 3, it’s slim pickings, as you can see. Which of the above would you be most interested in if it were your decision to make? Is there someone left off the list you’d like the Bengals to bring in for a workout?
Sound off.
