Bengals roster cuts: Cincinnati releases veteran safety Jimmy Wilson

The Bengals have released safety Jimmy Wilson ahead of Saturday’s roster cut deadline to get down to the 53 man roster.

This likely means that seventh round 2016 Draft pick Clayton Fejedelem has made the Bengals as the final safety on the roster.

A 5'11", 205-pound safety, Wilson was entering his sixth NFL season in 2016. He spent the 2015 season with the San Diego Chargers, for whom he started six games and appeared in 13. He finished with 44 total tackles, two pass deflections, one interception and one sack. He also recovered a Jeremy Hill fumble in the Bengals' Week 2 win over the Chargers.

Wilson’s connection to the Bengals was defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle who was the Dolphins defensive coordinator before being fired from the team in 2015. Prior to playing in San Diego, Wilson spent four seasons with the Miami Dolphins after they selected him in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Over the next four years, Wilson would appear in 60 games with 21 starts and total 134 tackles, three forced fumbles, 16 pass deflections and four interceptions.

Wilson was signed by the Bengals on July 28, making him a long-shot for the final roster from the start. The Bengals have not cut a rookie draft pick in three years, so it’s not too surprising that Fejedelem made the cut over Wilson.