The Bengals weren’t bad enough to get the help they felt they needed.
The Cincinnati Bengals, along with a few other teams, put in a claim on Commanders defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The Commanders waived Mathis on December 28, and because the Jets had a higher priority than the Bengals, Lions, and Texans, due their 4-12 record.
It shouldn’t be surprising the Bengals attempted to snag Mathis considering they have been without Sheldon Rankins for several weeks. It was announced on Monday the Bengals placed him on the reserve/non-football illness list, which likely ends his career in Cincinnati as the team would save $9.5 million by cutting him.
In Rankins’ absence, the Bengals have relied heavily on rookie defensive tackles Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson, who have rotated in alongside BJ Hill. With Rankins officially done for the year, it makes sense the Bengals would try to get another guy in the rotation.
Mathis was a second-round pick by the Commanders in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Alabama. He tore his meniscus in his NFL debut and spent his entire rookie season on IR. He spent a decent chunk of time of his second season on IR as well.
Even though the Bengals missed out on Mathis, it is possible he could make a huge play for the Jets that helps propel New York to a win over the Dolphins in Week 18, helping the Bengals get into the playoffs.
We can only hope.
