Teams have until August 27 to bring their rosters down to 53. One day after their final preseason contest, the Bengals have begun the process of releasing players, with 11 being let go on Friday.
Here is the full list of cuts:
- WR Hakeem Butler
- RB Noah Cain
- OL Jackson Carman
- DE Andre Carter II
- LB Aaron Casey
- S Michael Dowell
- CB Allan George
- WR Kwamie Lassiter II
- QB Rocky Lombardi
- G Eric Miller
- DT Joshua Pryor
Carman’s inclusion on the list does not come as a surprise. The 2021 second-rounder has not lived up to expectations so far, and he found himself on the roster bubble at the onset of training camp. During each of his first two seasons in the league, Carman lost a competition for a starting spot and was unable to earn the swing tackle role in 2023. Despite having one year left on his rookie contract, the Bengals will move on.
Butler, 28, entered the NFL in 2019, but his only regular season game action to date came one year later. The 6-5, 227-pounder was unable to find a regular role at the NFL level as a receiver or a tight end, but he had a successful spell in the UFL this spring. Butler was the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, fueling an attempt at returning to the NFL. That effort has obviously taken a hit with today’s move.
None of the players who have been let go are vested veterans. As a result, they will be subject to waivers several days before many other teams’ roster cuts go through the same process. Interested parties will be able to make a claim (knowing their own cut decisions are looming), but all players who clear will become free agents. That would leave the door open to a practice squad deal with Cincinnati or any other team once initial 53-man rosters are set.
Sometimes it seems like a guy jumps from college to the pros and just does not have it from day one. Carman’s one of those guys. He was a reach according to the consensus big board, but I don’t think anyone would have expected him to be as useless as he’s been.
He was a huge reach
Perhaps it’s time for Rocky to pursue a boxing career.
Billy Price, Jackson Carman are two of the biggest swings and misses of this century. How they could hit on so many other positions but bungle Offensive line picks for the better part of the past 20 years? Luckily they managed to trade price for BJ Hill. That’s the steal of the past 20 years. Somebody will grab Carman and think they can fix him but he’s another Alex Leatherwood. He either can’t or won’t learn how to actually play the game.
There’s actually a player worse than Alex Leatherbrain?
4 penalties in 10 minutes. Standing silently while defensive lineman run by him smiling and waving. Miami deserves him, pray for Tua.
Jackson Carmen is yet another example of the Bengals front office thinking they are smarter than everyone else. They are not. This is also on Willy Anderson, who totally vouched for him.
Wrong link for Andrew Carter