Bengals' Dax Hill: Could be in store for bigger role
Rotowire
Hill could garner a major role in 2023 after Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates both left Cincinnati in free agency, Albert Breer of SI.com reports.
Hill was selected in the first round of the 2022 Draft but was relegated to a backup role as a rookie, totaling 16 tackles across 15 appearances. The Michigan product played over 12 percent of the Bengals' defensive snaps just once last year, totaling eight tackles (five solo) across 63 snaps in Week 15 versus Tampa Bay. If Hill is thrust into a starting role in 2023, his production in that game gives fantasy managers a good sense of what to expect from Hill on a game-by-game basis.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Headed to Atlanta
Rotowire
Bates is in line to sign with the Falcons, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The Bengals have lost both their starting safeties within the first few hours of the NFL's legal tampering period, seeing Bates depart for Atlanta shortly after Vonn Bell reached terms with the Panthers. The silver lining for Cincinnati is a big opportunity ahead for 2022 first-round pick Dax Hill, who played only 131 defensive snaps in 15 games as a rookie. Bates, meanwhile, immediately becomes one of the best players for an Atlanta defense that's been bad for the past half-decade. He has a good chance to rebound from last year's career-low 71 tackles, though big-play opportunities figure to be fewer and further between unless the Falcons improve considerably from 2022.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Vonn Bell: Links up with Carolina
Rotowire
Bell and the Panthers reached agreement on a contract Monday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Bell's departure from Cincinnati could open up an every-down role for 2022 first-round pick Dax Hill, especially with the Bengals also in danger of losing fellow free agent Jessie Bates this spring. Bell had an unusual final season in Cincinnati, finishing with a career-low 77 tackles but making up for it with four interceptions. He'd picked off just two passes through his first six seasons despite making 67 starts between New Orleans and Cincinnati. The 28-year-old should stay on the IDP map in Carolina, likely trading some of those interceptions for more tackles, especially if the Panthers have another rough season and face a lot of rushing volume on defense.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Germaine Pratt: Staying in Cincinnati
Rotowire
Pratt and the Bengals came to terms Monday on a three-year, $21 million contract, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
One of the Bengals' key free agents, Pratt is a great keep for the defense. He's started 54 games since being taken in the third round of the 2019 Draft. Pratt registered 99 tackles and a pair of interceptions across 15 starts last season.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Michael Thomas: Receives another extension
Rotowire
The Bengals re-signed Thomas to a one-year extension Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Thomas is now set to remain in Cincinnati for at least one more season, when he'll serve in his 11th NFL campaign. The 32-year-old safety has primarily worked as a special-teams contributor throughout his two-year stint with the Bengals, and he'll likely do so again in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Jalen Davis: Signs new deal
Rotowire
Davis re-signed with the Bengals on a two-year deal Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Davis will remain in Cincinnati after spending the previous three seasons with the team. In 2022, he suited up 13 times, primarily contributing on special teams. The 27-year-old finished the year with two assisted tackles and a fumble recovery. Looking ahead to the coming season, the 27-year-old will reprise his role as a depth option in the Bengals' secondary.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Joe Bachie: Reups with Cincinnati
Rotowire
Bachie agreed to a one-year deal with the Bengals on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Bachie appeared in 10 games last year after missing the start of the season due to a knee injury. The 25-year-old was a regular piece of Cincinnati's special-teams unit, recording 10 tackles along the way. He'll work to earn a regular spot among the team's linebacker rotation in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Joseph Ossai: Addresses lingering shoulder issue
Rotowire
Ossai recently underwent surgery to address the torn labrum that he played through this past season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Ossai is now slated to spend time recovering from the procedure, and he'll aim to be fully cleared by the time Cincinnati's offseason program commences.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Vonn Bell: Tallies 77 tackles in 2022
Rotowire
Bell ended the 2022 regular season with 77 tackles, four interceptions, eight passes defended and one sack across 16 games. He added 17 tackles and one sack over the Bengals' three postseason contests.
Bell, who is one of the Bengals' team captains, will be a free agent this offseason but is likely to re-sign with the team. Assuming he does, the 28-year-old should reclaim a starting role at safety for the Bengals in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Eli Apple: No interceptions in 2022
Rotowire
Apple concluded the 2022 regular season with 49 tackles, eight pass breakups and no interceptions, forced fumbles or fumble recoveries across 15 appearances. He added 18 stops and one pass breakup in the Bengals' three postseason contests.
As Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic notes, Apple is one of five defensive starters for the Bengals who are ticketed for free agency this offseason. After having failed to produce a turnover in 2022, Apple is unlikely to be deployed as a starter if he returns to the team in 2023, given the late-season emergence of rookie Cam Taylor-Britt along with the fact that Chidobe Awuzie (knee) should be back from ACL surgery. Even if Awuzie has a setback and isn't on track to be ready for Week 1 of the 2023 season, the team might turn elsewhere to find another starter opposite Taylor-Britt.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Germaine Pratt: Notches career-high 99 stops in '22
Rotowire
Pratt finished the regular season with 99 tackles, two interceptions, a sack and 10 passes defended over 15 appearances. He added 20 tackles and three pass breakups across the Bengals' three postseason games.
According to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, Pratt expressed his frustration with getting subbed out for some third downs during this past Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, but the fourth-year linebacker still acknowledged that he hopes to return to Cincinnati in 2023. Pratt will become an unrestricted free agent in the spring.
Hill recorded a career-high 68 tackles and added three sacks and three fumble recoveries over 16 games during the regular season. The defensive tackle notched an additional nine tackles and one sack over the Bengals' three playoff games.
The Bengals have netted a big profit in acquiring Hill from the Giants in advance of the 2021 season. He played a career-high 785 defensive snaps in 2022 and will remain a starting tackle for the Bengals as he heads into the second season of a three-year, $30 million deal in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Jessie Bates: Records four picks in fifth season
Rotowire
Bates finished the regular season with a career-low 71 tackles and a career-high four interceptions in 16 appearances. He added 20 tackles in the Bengals' three postseason contests.
Bates was playing under the franchise tag for his fifth NFL season after he and the Bengals tried but failed to come to a long-term contract agreement. He hasn't completely closed the door on returning in 2023, but Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic suggests Bates is unlikely to be retained. The Bengals have an estimated $44 million in cap space available, but with extensions with quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Tee Higgins likely viewed as greater priorities, Cincinnati may not have much money left over for Bates. Cincinnati already prepared for Bates' possible departure by selecting safety Dax Hill in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Joseph Ossai: Getting MRI on knee
Rotowire
Ossai is scheduled to get an MRI after his knee buckled late in Sunday's 23-20 AFC Championship Game loss to the Chiefs, Andrew Gillis of Cleveland.com reports.
To add insult to injury, Ossai also was called for a crucial penalty on the play, as his injury occurred while the defensive end was delivering a late hit out of bounds on scrambling quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The 15-yard penalty on Ossai got Kansas City within range for a game-winning 45-yard field goal on the following play. With Cincinnati's season over, Ossai will have plenty of rehab time if the MRI discovers any damage to the knee.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Tre Flowers: Back in full Thursday
Rotowire
Flowers (hamstring) was a full participant during the Bengals' practice Thursday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Flowers has battled a lingering hamstring injury sustained Week 8, which kept him inactive for last Sunday's divisional-round win over Buffalo. The 27-year-old was then limited during practice Wednesday, though he seems to be ready to suit up again heading into this Sunday's matchup against Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game. Flowers has seen the majority of his playing time on special teams this season, though he should provide valuable depth behind top cornerbacks Eli Apple, Cam Taylor-Britt and Mike Hilton.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Tre Flowers: Limited Wednesday
Rotowire
Flowers (hamstring) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice, Andrew Gillis of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Flowers continues to deal with a lingering hamstring issue and has played primarily on special teams since suffering the injury in Week 8. He saw 16 snaps (one on defense) during the Bengals' wild-card win over Baltimore, but he was inactive for the divisional round. He's trending in the right direction for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs, but he'll likely have to log at least one full practice by Friday to avoid taking an injury designation into the weekend.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Tre Flowers: Won't play Sunday
Rotowire
Flowers (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the Bills, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
As expected, Flowers, who was listed as doubtful, will miss the playoff matchup due to a lingering hamstring issue. He's played primarily on special teams since suffering the injury in Week 8, so his absence shouldn't have a major impact on Cincinnati's secondary. Expect the Bengals to deploy Eli Apple, Cam Taylor-Britt and Mike Hilton as their top cornerbacks against Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis and Isaiah McKenzie.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Tre Flowers: Doubtful to play versus Buffalo
Rotowire
Flowers (hamstring) is considered doubtful to play in Sunday's AFC divisional-round matchup with the Bills, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Flowers has been dealing with a hamstring injury for over two months, and it appears the issue will sideline him for Sunday's playoff game. In his absence, Cam Taylor-Britt will likely start opposite Eli Apple at cornerback.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Tycen Anderson: Returning to practice this week
Rotowire
The Bengals designated Anderson (hamstring) to return from injured reserve Wednesday.
Cincinnati placed Anderson on injured reserve back on Sept. 2 due to a hamstring issue, and he'll now be able to partake in wild-card prep after missing the entire regular season. Once activated to the Bengals' active roster, the rookie likely won't play a huge role defensively, as fellow safeties Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates seem to have their starting spots locked up for this year's postseason run.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Eli Apple: Will play Sunday
Rotowire
Apple (neck) is active for Sunday's matchup against the Ravens.
Apple drew a questionable tag after picking up a neck injury during Week 18 prep, but he'll ultimately be active for the Bengals' regular-season finale. Across 14 appearances, the veteran cornerback has totaled 43 tackles and eight pass defenses while playing nearly every single defensive snap for Cincinnati this season.
