A veteran is moving on.
Monday morning, the Cincinnati Bengals announced that they had released starting right guard Alex Cappa. Cappa came to the Bengals ahead of the 2022 season after starting his career with Tampa Bay.
Cappa’s first season in Cincinnati went well, but after an ankle injury the following season, never seemed to return to form. His 2024 season was rough, to say the least.
Now, the Bengals will move on.
This certainly indicates that Cincinnati will address the guard position this offseason, whether that is through free agency or the NFL draft. Interior pressure has been a problem for the Bengals since Joe Burrow entered the league, so the team is going to have to act to replace a veteran starter, even after a down year.
Now that Cappa has been released, do you think the Bengals made the right move?
As usual, Bengals Twitter had reactions to the news. Here is a look at some reactions from fans and media after Cappa’s release was announced by the team:
If Alex Cappa didn’t suffer a terrible ankle injury in 2022, I think the Bengals win that Super Bowl. He was really good that year.
The Bengals will likely have two new starting guards. They’re acting a lot earlier than they typically do with cap cuts. https://t.co/Hvc1SQzMvS
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) March 3, 2025
Reminder Alex Cappa’s career has not been the same since the final game of the 2022 season that should’ve been meaningless but the NFL added the coin flip rule-Cappa got injured because the Bengals were forced to play the starters to get the 3 seed home game they already earned. https://t.co/Ts387Kpn0M pic.twitter.com/3kNNPHbBGm
— obscure bengals (@obscure_bengals) March 3, 2025
Alex Cappa was a critical piece for this team when they signed him in 2022, but unfortunately, he was a guy who didn’t have much to give once the injuries stripped away his athletic ability.
I’ll always think fondly of Cappa’s time in Cincinnati; had some tremendous stretches. https://t.co/3AjGoA7Vl4
— Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) March 3, 2025
Alex Cappa was a 12:00:01 EST “signing” on the first day of the legal tampering in 2022, about a month after Super Bowl LVI.
He was a good, targeted signing and played well in 2022 and had good stretches of play in 2023. Wheels fell off in 2024, so just time time to move on.
— Andre Perrotta (@andreperrotta13) March 3, 2025
The story of Alex Cappa in Cincinnati:
2022 season:
70.4 pass block grade
2.9% pressure rate allowed (11th among OGs in the NFL)-Injury vs Baltimore in week 18-
47.8 pass block grade
6.1% pressure rate allowed (57th among OGs in the NFL)— Andrew Russell (@Andrew_Russell7) March 3, 2025
#Bengals release OL Alex Cappa.
They keep rolling releasing veterans that can make way for extensions and younger fixes. No surprise here, was a rough season for Cappa.
Rankins was first, now Cappa, both who struggled mightily holding the trenches last year.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) March 3, 2025
TRENDING: The #Bengals released triple-crown winner Alex Cappa
• 1st in sacks allowed
• 1st in pressures allowed
• 1st in hurries allowedWhich team should sign Cappa in free agency…? pic.twitter.com/DDlRtqqY33
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 3, 2025
Alex Cappa was a great signing in 2022. Injuries are the worst.
Never forget he was a top 20 pass blocker on true pass sets that year and was exactly what they needed at the time.
If they can make a similar signing (or 2) this year, they are in good shape. https://t.co/9qi5g6WlKy
— Gridiron Grading (@GridironGrading) March 3, 2025
RG Alex Cappa now joins DT Sheldon Rankins in being released.
2025 cap & cash ramifications:
Cap savings: $8M
Cash Savings: $8M
Dead Money: $2.25MFully expect other cuts from the Bengals as well before the new league year starts next week. https://t.co/DHXZCCaoB2
— Andre Perrotta (@andreperrotta13) March 3, 2025
Would not surprised to see Alex Cappa coaching in the next handful of years.
Viewed as a valuable mentor to young players, a lovely personality in the #Bengals locker room, and a guy who played above his potential for much of his career.
— Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) March 3, 2025
Wishing The Cappa Family the best of luck as they move forward.
