NFL roster moves: Cincinnati Bengals practice squad and waiver wire tracker

The Cincinnati Bengals have announced the initial 53-man roster as of 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and now we turn to who is making the practice squad.

The practice squad can be announced anytime after 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Bengals can place up to 11 guys on the practice squad this year, but don’t need to fill out the entire practice squad on Sunday. The Bengals are getting an additional practice squad player — if they so choose — due to having tight end Moritz Böhringer as part of the International Player Pathway Program, for which they get a roster exemption.

The Bengals might not fill up the whole practice squad right away, but expect to see the majority of it filled by the end of Week 1.

Practice squad players in 2018 can earn a minimum of $7,600 per week during the regular season and postseason, per the current CBA, but there is no cap on the amount practice squad players can receive.

Bengals 2018 practice squad

• TE Moritz Böhringer (first-year player, Aalen [Germany])
• DT Andrew Brown (rookie, Virginia)
• HB Quinton Flowers (rookie, South Florida)
• H-B Jordan Franks (rookie, Central Florida)
• CB C.J. Goodwin (third-year player, California [Pa.])
• C Brad Lundblade (rookie, Oklahoma State)
• OT Kent Perkins (first-year player, Texas)
• CB KeiVarae Russell (third-year player, Notre Dame)
• WR Kermit Whitfield (first-year player, Florida State)
• LB Chris Worley (rookie, Ohio State)

The final practice squad spot is expected to go to quarterback Christian Hackenberg, signaling the end of rookie quarterback Logan Woodside’s time with the Bengals.

Another thing that could happen today is the Bengals claiming players on the waiver wire. Cornerback, defensive line and quarterback are areas in which the team could look to improve via the waiver wire. Marvin Lewis already confirmed they’ll be looking for cornerbacks.

Practice squad and waiver wire rumors:

• The Bengals did not sign any players off the waiver wire.
• Rookie DT Andrew Brown is signing onto the Bengals’ practice squad
• Running back Brian Hill has cleared waivers. The Bengals would like to get him on the practice squad.
• The Raiders claimed former Bengals OT Justin Murray on waivers.
• The Bengals want cornerback help and Cyrus Jones can provide just that, plus serve as a returner, too. Here’s what SB Nation’s Patriots website, Pats Pulpit has to say about why he was cut by the Patriots:

He spent all of 2017 on injured reserve with a torn ACL and started training camp on the PUP list – all while rookies Keion Crossen and JC Jackson performed really well. With New England having plenty of bodies at the position, they apparently felt better letting Jones go than Crossen and Jackson. I wouldn’t be surprised, though, if they wanted him to return to the practice squad. He does, after all, has plenty of upside. He just wasn’t able to put it all together in New England, and ended up as the odd man out.

UPDATE: Jones is signing with the Ravens’ practice squad.

• Corey Coleman, Breshad Perriman, Martavis Bryant and Braxton Miller were not claimed by any team on waivers.
• When you have first dibs (like the Browns), you can make a lot of claims...

• Rookie quarterback Danny Etling signed to the Patriots’ practice squad
• The Broncos are calling it quits with former first round pick Paxton Lynch. He has been cut after Denver claimed QB Kevin Hogan on waivers.
• The Chargers are cutting Cardale Jones and going with Geno Smith to back up Phillip Rivers.
• The Bengals attempted to claim for defensive lineman Carl Davis, but the Browns got him as part of their haul.