Bengals release Week 1 depth chart: Joe Mixon RB3; Pat Sims starting at NT

Ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati Bengals have released their first regular-season depth chart.

This is the first depth chart update since the first week of the preseason, long before final cuts were made. That’s why you’ll see a lot less names on the new depth chart, as well as some shifting among the backup spots. You’ll also notice that players serving suspensions are not listed on the depth chart.

Here's the latest look at the Bengals' depth chart entering their first regular-season game:

Offense

Quarterback:

1. Andy Dalton
2. AJ McCarron

Running Back:

1. Jeremy Hill
2. Giovani Bernard
3. Joe Mixon

Wide Receiver 1:

1. A.J. Green
2. Cody Core
3. Josh Malone

Wide Receiver 2:

1. Brandon LaFell
2. Tyler Boyd
3. John Ross
4. Alex Erickson

Tight End:

1. Tyler Eifert
2. Tyler Kroft
3. C.J. Uzomah

H-Back/Fullback:

1. Ryan Hewitt

Cethan Carter

Left Tackle:

1. Cedric Ogbuehi
2. Andre Smith

Right Tackle:

1. Jake Fisher
2. Andre Smith

Left Guard:

1. Clint Boling
2. Christian Westerman

Right Guard:

1. Trey Hopkins
2. Alex Redmond

Center:

1. Russell Bodine
2. T.J. Johnson

Defense

Left Defensive End:

1. Carlos Dunlap
2. Chris Smith

Right Defensive End:

1. Michael Johnson
2. Jordan Willis

Defensive Tackle:

1. Geno Atkins
2. Ryan Glasgow

Nose Tackle:

1. Pat Sims
2. Andrew Billings

Middle Linebackers:

1. Kevin Minter
2. Hardy Nickerson

Strongside Linebackers:

1. Nick Vigil
2. Carl Lawson

Weakside Linebackers:

1. Vincent Rey
2. Jordan Evans

Left Cornerback:

1. Dre Kirkpatrick
2. Josh Shaw*

Right Cornerback:

1. Darqueze Dennard
2. William Jackson III*
3. KeiVarae Russell

Free Safety:

1. George Iloka
2. Clayton Fejedelem

Strong Safety:

1. Shawn Williams
2. Derron Smith

Special teams

Kicker:

1. Randy Bullock

Punter:

1. Kevin Huber

Long Snapper:

1. Clark Harris

Kickoff Returner:

1. Alex Erickson
2. Joe Mixon

Punt Returner:

1. Alex Erickson
2. Tyler Boyd

*Note: There is no starting slot position, which would have likely gone to William Jackson III or Josh Shaw for Week 1.

Key observations:

• You’ll notice Vontaze Burfict and Adam Jones aren’t listed as they serve their suspensions. Vincent Rey is now listed as the starting weakside linebacker, while Darqueze Dennard is the second starting boundary corner next to Dre Kirkpatrick. It still remains unclear if Dennard really will start over William Jackson in Week 1.
• The last depth chart had Andre Smith listed as the starting right guard. However, Trey Hopkins went on to decisively win that job. Now, Smith is listed as a backup tackle on both the left and right sides.
• Alex Redmond is now the backup right guard. Christian Westerman is the backup left guard. I’m not sold that Smith still isn’t the next guard up if either one of the starters go down.
• Carl Lawson is listed as the backup strongside linebacker, but I doubt he sees 20-plus snaps per game if Nick Vigil goes down. I’d expect Jordan Evans and/or Hardy Nickerson to get those snaps, but I do expect Lawson to get plenty of defensive end snaps on passing downs.
• Pat Sims maintains his starting nose tackle spot ahead of Andrew Billings. I think Billings still gets more snaps and could take over that role at some point.
• Joe Mixon is third on the depth chart, which I expect to remain true for awhile. The Bengals respect their veterans and won’t let a rookie pass by Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill until he consistently proves he deserves it on the field.

What are your thoughts on the first Bengals depth chart of the 2017 regular season?