The Cincinnati Bengals open the 2022 regular against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 11 at Cincinnati's Paycor Stadium.
The biggest battles for the defending AFC champs are at the back of the wide receivers group and in the secondary. Rookie wideout Kwamie Lassiter II has put pressure on veterans Trenton Irwin and Trent Taylor for a spot on the 53-man roster. Lassiter has also provided value in special teams, which could lead to a roster crunch.
Rookie Cordell Volson and Jackson Carman have been locked in a battle for the starting left guard, a tussle that has provided the most intrigue throughout training camp.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Joe Burrow, Brandon Allen
Cincinnati opts to keep two quarterbacks on the roster. Allen has proved to be a trustworthy backup since he arrived. Jake Browning has played well enough to take a spot on the practice squad.
RUNNING BACKS (3): Joe Mixon, Samaje Perine, Chris Evans
Each of the backup running backs has carved out a role behind Mixon, who will get the chunk of the reps on first and second down. Perine will continue to be used in pass protection while Evans could spell Mixon on early downs and serve as the team's kick returner.
WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Ja'Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, Trent Taylor, Stanley Morgan, Mike Thomas, Trenton Irwin
One year after being cut at the end of the preseason, Taylor showed why he should be on the 53-man roster. In addition to tallying 106 yards through the first two preseason games, he was easily the best option at punt returner. Rookies Kendric Pryor and Kwamie Lassiter II, who flashed throughout training camp and preseason, should be locks to make the practice squad.
TIGHT END (3): Hayden Hurst, Drew Sample, Mitchell Wilcox
As of now, only one of these guys is healthy. Hurst, the free-agent signing, should give the Bengals a more viable vertical passing threat than they've had in recent years. Sample and Wilcox are currently nursing injuries that could force the Bengals to look at other options to start the season.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Jonah Williams, Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, La'el Collins, D'Ante Smith, Jackson Carman, Trey Hill, Hakeem Adeniji, Isaiah Prince
Volson, the fourth-round pick out of North Dakota State, appears to be the front-runner to be the team's starting left guard, beating out Jackson Carman, last year's second-round pick. Adeniji could be a potential swing tackle and gives the Bengals someone to plug at different spots along the line.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10): Trey Hendrickson, DJ Reader, BJ Hill, Sam Hubbard, Cam Sample, Josh Tupou, Zach Carter, Joseph Ossai, Khalid Kareem, Jeff Gunter
The most notable name is the one missing -- Tyler Shelvin. Last year's fourth-round pick just hasn't been able to acclimate to the NFL well as he battles weight issues and injuries. Cincinnati should have enough interior depth to keep an extra edge rusher.
LINEBACKERS (4): Logan Wilson, Markus Bailey, Germaine Pratt, Akeem Davis-Gaither
The only question will be about the back end of the group and if there's a battle between Bailey, a 2020 draft pick the team felt carried upside, and Clay Johnston, who was on the practice squad and played well in the postseason and had a 20-tackle effort in the preseason game against the New York Giants.
CORNERBACKS (6): Chidobe Awuzie, Cam Taylor-Britt, Eli Apple, Tre Flowers, Jalen Davis, Mike Hilton
Awuzie and Apple will hold down the starting outside cornerback spots with Hilton playing slot corner. Second-round pick Cam Taylor-Britt is dealing with a core injury. He and Flowers will give them depth on the outside.
SAFETIES (5): Vonn Bell, Jessie Bates III, Dax Hill, Tycen Anderson, Michael Thomas
This could be one of the deepest positions on the roster. Bates signed his franchise tag on Aug. 23 and retakes his spot as the team's free safety and one of its best overall players. Hill, this year's first-round pick, gives Cincinnati a massive asset in dime packages with six defensive backs.
SPECIALISTS (3): Clark Harris (long-snapper), Drue Chrisman (punter), Evan McPherson (kicker)
Longtime punter Kevin Huber has played 207 games for the Bengals, tying him with former cornerback Ken Riley for the franchise record. But Chrisman appears to be the front-runner to win the punting battle. Harris, who has played in 201 games, is now on track to break Riley and Huber's mark.