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Why Bengals’ initial practice squad only includes 8 players

The Bengals have opted to leave two open spaces on the practice squad. Here’s why.

NFL: Preseason-Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

The Cincinnati Bengals are still making roster moves after creating the initial 53-man roster and practice squad.

The roster currently includes 53 players, the maximum allowed, but the practice squad only features eight guys, when it could include 10.

Why do the Bengals only have eight men on the practice squad? Well, there are a few likely reasons.

1) Adam Jones is suspended for Week 1 of the 2017 NFL season. Upon his return, the Bengals will need to cut a player to make room for him on the roster. Instead of putting someone on the practice squad for one week and then cutting them, the Bengals are likely leaving a spot open for someone on the current roster to be moved to the practice squad in Week 2.

2) The Bengals are still considering their options on players to sign who were recently cut around the league. The Bengals are probably taking a good look at the players who were cut this weekend and could add a player at any time to take one of the available two spots.

3) C.J. Uzomah is currently dealing with an ankle injury, which paved the way for Cethan Carter to make the initial 53-man roster. But, once Uzomah is healthy, the Bengals are likely to cut Carter. Having four tight ends and a fullback is not necessary when all of those guys are healthy. Carter would need to pass through waivers if he’s cut and then the Bengals could add him to the practice squad. They likely want to get him on the practice squad if he’s cut because of how frequently tight ends get injured.

4) As is the case with Jones, Vontaze Burfict is also currently suspended and upon his return in Week 4, the Bengals will likely be cutting a linebacker who has practice squad eligibility. At that time, the player could be cut and if he clears waivers, join the practice squad. Though, the Bengals certainly could just make roster and practice squad moves at that time and don’t need to leave a spot open for three weeks.

Expect the Bengals to still be considering players to add to the practice squad as moves continue to be made.

Cincinnati Bengals 53-Man Roster

# NAME POS. HT. WT. AGE EXP. COLLEGE
# NAME POS. HT. WT. AGE EXP. COLLEGE
97 Atkins, Geno DT 6-1 300 29 8 Georgia
25 Bernard, Giovani HB 5-9 205 25 5 North Carolina
75 Billings, Andrew DT 6-1 325 22 2 Baylor
61 Bodine, Russell C 6-3 308 25 4 North Carolina
65 Boling, Clint G 6-5 305 28 7 Georgia
83 Boyd, Tyler WR 6-2 197 22 2 Pittsburgh
4 Bullock, Randy K 5-9 206 27 6 Texas A&M
82 Carter, Cethan H-B 6-3 241 23 R Nebraska
16 Core, Cody WR 6-3 210 23 2 Mississippi
14 Dalton, Andy QB 6-2 220 29 7 Texas Christian
21 Dennard, Darqueze CB 5-11 198 25 4 Michigan State
96 Dunlap, Carlos DE 6-6 280 28 8 Florida
85 Eifert, Tyler TE 6-6 255 26 5 Notre Dame
50 Evans, Jordan LB 6-2 233 22 R Oklahoma
12 Erickson, Alex WR 6-0 195 24 2 Wisconsin
42 Fejedelem, Clayton S 6-0 205 24 2 Illinois
74 Fisher, Jake OT 6-6 305 24 3 Oregon
67 Glasgow, Ryan DT 6-3 302 23 R Michigan
18 Green, A.J. WR 6-4 210 29 7 Georgia
46 Harris, Clark LS 6-5 250 33 9 Rutgers
89 Hewitt, Ryan H-B 6-4 255 26 4 Stanford
32 Hill, Jeremy HB 6-1 235 24 4 Louisiana State
66 Hopkins, Trey G 6-3 310 25 2 Texas
10 Huber, Kevin P 6-1 211 32 9 Cincinnati
43 Iloka, George S 6-4 225 27 6 Boise State
22 Jackson, William CB 6-0 187 24 2 Houston
90 Johnson, Michael DE 6-7 272 30 9 Georgia Tech
60 Johnson, T.J. C 6-4 300 27 4 South Carolina
27 Kirkpatrick, Dre CB 6-2 185 27 6 Alabama
81 Kroft, Tyler TE 6-6 250 24 3 Rutgers
11 LaFell, Brandon WR 6-3 210 30 8 Louisiana State
58 Lawson, Carl LB 6-2 261 22 R Auburn
80 Malone, Josh WR 6-3 208 21 R Tennessee
5 McCarron, AJ QB 6-3 220 26 3 Alabama
51 Minter, Kevin LB 6-0 246 26 5 LSU
28 Mixon, Joe HB 6-1 228 21 R Oklahoma
56 Nickerson, Hardy LB 6-0 232 23 R Illinois
70 Ogbuehi, Cedric OT 6-5 310 25 3 Texas A&M
62 Redmond, Alex G 6-5 310 22 1 UCLA
57 Rey, Vincent LB 6-0 250 29 7 Duke
15 Ross, John WR 5-11 188 22 R Washington
20 Russell, KeiVarae CB 5-11 196 23 2 Notre Dame
26 Shaw, Josh CB 6-1 200 25 3 Southern California
92 Sims, Pat DT 6-2 330 31 10 Auburn
71 Smith, Andre G 6-4 325 30 9 Alabama
94 Smith, Chris DE 6-1 266 25 4 Arkansas
31 Smith, Derron S 5-10 200 25 3 Fresno State
87 Uzomah, C.J. TE 6-6 265 24 3 Auburn
59 Vigil, Nick LB 6-2 239 24 2 Utah State
63 Westerman, Christian G 6-3 300 24 2 Arizona State
36 Williams, Shawn S 6-0 210 26 5 Georgia
99 Willis, Jordan DE 6-4 255 22 R Kansas State

Bengals practice squad

# NAME POS. HT. WT. AGE EXP. COLLEGE
# NAME POS. HT. WT. AGE EXP. COLLEGE
52 Bell, Brandon LB 6-1 229 22 R Penn State
3 Elliott, Jake K 5-9 167 22 R Memphis
78 Perkins, Kent OT 6-5 320 22 R Texas
68 Tupou, Josh DT 6-3 350 23 R Colorado
13 Whitfield, Kermit WR 5-8 184 23 R Florida State
69 Williams, DeShawn DT 6-1 295 24 2 Clemson
39 Williams, Jarveon HB 5-9 202 22 R Texas- San Antonio
40 Wilson, Brandon S 5-11 200 23 R Houston
Sojourn, Shelton CB 5-9 168 R Wisconsin
Toner, Cole G 6-7 300 2 Harvard