Bengals put Josh Tupou on opt-out list; waive Moritz Bohringer and Devwah Whaley

The Cincinnati Bengals have announced Josh Tupou has officially opted out of the 2020 NFL season due to the coronavirus, and he has subsequently been placed on the reserve/opt-out list.

In addition, the team has waived running back Devwah Whaley and tight end Moritz Bohringer.

A fourth-year player in 2020, Tupou originally was a Bengals college free agent signee in 2017 out of Colorado. He has played in 23 career games with 36 tackles and a forced fumble.

Had Tupou played this season, the 6-4, 345-pound mammoth projected to be a key backup with D.J. Reader and Geno Atkins set to start at the two defensive tackle spots. Tupou’s roster spot was fairly secure, as he’s proven to be a very valuable body in the middle of the trenches.

The Bengals’ defensive tackle depth is now in question after losing Tupou, as well as Ryan Glasgow (cut for failed physical), so it will be up to second-year man Renell Wren to step up and help overcome those losses. Also, look for undrafted free agents Trey Dishon and Tyler Clark to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster.

Whaley, a 2020 undrafted rookie by way of the Arkansas Razorbacks, had signed with the Bengals as a college free agent in April.

Bohringer, a first-year player out of Aalen, Germany, joined the Bengals in 2018 as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program and spent the last two seasons on Cincinnati’s practice squad.