Geoff Hobson

A look at the Bengals' roster after their Thursday night preseason opener in Philadelphia.

QUARTERBACKS (4)

Joe Burrow(6),Desmond Ridder(4),Jake Browning(3),Payton Thorne(R)

Burrow, who came in fourth in the NFL MVP vote last season, began his campaign with a brisk rally against the Eagles' backup defenders while sifting nine of his first ten passes for two touchdowns and 123 yards in the season's first 12 minutes.

When you stop to realize that two of his bigger weapons, tight ends Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant, didn't play, it gets you thinking this offense has the potential to be historic.Backups or no backups.

Browning got the two quarters after that reserved for the primary backup before the No. 3 Ridder made his Bengals debut in the final ten minutes. In generating ten points, Ridder showed how he led the University of Cincinnati to glory with resourcefulness and a knack of using his feet to turn negatives into positives.

WIDE RECEIVERS (12)

Tee Higgins(6),JaMarr Chase(5),Andrei Iosivas(3),Charlie Jones(3),Jermaine Burton(2),Kendric Pryor(2),Mitchell Tinsley(2),Isaiah Williams(2),Cole Burgess(1),Jamoi Mayes(R),Jordan Moore(R),Rashod Owens(R)

One of the feel-good stories of the night is Jones coming off two surgeries and looking terrific with three catches for 41 yards. Burton's high-stepping 32-yard punt return shows he's headed in the right direction. Did you see Iosivas' perimeter block spring Chase for a first down screen?

Everybody has been watching Tinsley since Burrow mentioned his name last week, and he keeps showing why. On Thursday, it was a 15-yard catch over the middle and a top five Pro Football Focus team receiving grade for the game. Only two guys named Chase, Jones, and two-touchdown Tanner Hudson were ahead of him. If they keep six, that's quite a battle for the last spot.

RUNNING BACKS (6)

Samaje Perine(9),Gary Brightwell(4),Chase Brown(3),Kendall Milton(1),Tahj Brooks(R),Quali Conley(R)

Yes, Brooks showed up as advertised. He's supposed to be an accomplished pass blocker for a rookie back and PFF promptly graded him the club's second-best pass blocker of the night behind only left tackle Orlando Brown, Jr. Throw in ten carries for 28 yards, and he looks Rudi Johnson-rugged with Giovani Bernard hands. Plus, he had a tackle in the kicking game.

The trio of Brown, Perine, and Brooks looks impenetrable. Brightwell had quite a night. His 71-yard kick return got called back, and he couldn't contain the Eagles' 46-yard punt return. Milton, last year's practice squadder, didn't play and may get a shot in Washington.

TIGHT ENDS (7)

Mike Gesicki(8),Noah Fant(7),Drew Sample(7),Tanner Hudson(6),Erick All Jr.(2),Cam Grandy(2),Tanner McLachlan(2)

This is how deep they are. Gesicki and Fant didn't play (they're expected to go next week in Washington), and Hudson stepped in to catch 12-yard touchdown passes from Burrow and Ridder.

"He's a big, long target. He's a really smart player," Burrow said of Hudson after the game. "He knows the coverages he's facing. He can feel their zones when he wants to sit down and give you his hands. Since he got here, I've had faith in him. He makes plays over and over again. Eventually, when you make plays like that consistently, you begin to find yourself with more opportunities."

The addition of Fant suddenly makes it the most interesting roster battle on the club, figuring they'll keep four. Sample is their most seasoned and versatile blocking tight end, so he's here. Grandy is also a solid blocker and, in fact, was PFF's third-best Bengals' run blocker and sixth-best overall blocker on Thursday. And Hudson just makes plays. Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher observed when Gesicki went down last week, Hudson had 20 catches in the next two practices.

(All, recovering from ACL surgery, is presumed to be headed to IR.)

OFFENSIVE LINE (16)

CTed Karras(10), GLucas Patrick(9), TOrlando Brown Jr.(8), G-TCody Ford(7), GCordell Volson(4), TDevin Cochran(3), GJaxson Kirkland(2), CMatt Lee(2), TAmarius Mims(2), CAndrew Raym(2); TAndrew Stueber(2), TAndrew Coker(1), TCaleb Etienne(R), GDylan Fairchild(R), CSeth McLaughlin(R), G-TJalen Rivers(R).

What is it that Paul Brown would say about Fairchild after the second-rounder made his NFL debut Thursday night as the starting left guard? It's not too big for him. They drafted him when they flagged his pass-blocking, but PFF graded him their best run blocker against the Eagles and their second-best overall offensive player behind only Chase.

Burrow didn't get touched on his 10 passes (Fairchild held up on a robust inside rush as Burrow converted a quick third-and-five to Chase), but he also worked well in tandem with Orlando Brown and Karras getting Chase Brown to the second level in the run game.

Overall, a good night for new offensive line coach Scott Peters' crew. The rookie Rivers at the second left tackle had some ups and downs, but allowed only one pressure. Cochran at the second right tackle allowed no pressures. Both showed why they are in the mix to stay as the swing tackles. Patrick and Ford are both going to make it, too, but which one is the starting right guard didn't get solved Thursday. Lee didn't play Thursday, but figures to get a shot next week in Washington as he tries to hold on to his roster spot as a backup center-guard.

DEFENSIVE LINE (16)

DETrey Hendrickson(9), DTTaven Bryan(8); DTB.J. Hill(8), DEJoseph Ossai(5), DE-DTCam Sample(5), DTT.J. Slaton Jr.(5), DTMcTelvin Agim(3); DEMyles Murphy(3), DEIsaiah Thomas(3), DTKris Jenkins Jr.(2), DECedric Johnson(2), DERaymond Johnson III(2), DTMcKinnley Jackson(2), DTHoward Cross III(R), DTEric Gregory(R), DEShemar Stewart(R)

An overall good night for the rookie class was anchored by the first-round pick on the edge as Stewart unleashed a pressure while offering consistent disruption with the second group. He may get a shot with the first team next week.

There was more action on the inside, where Jackson had four stops and was named PFF's top Bengal vs. the run. Jenkins was his solid self with five tackles. Slaton will be.

With Hill expected back, there's a big-time scramble for the fifth tackle spot. The undrafted Cross has caught the coaches' attention in camp (he took half the snaps Thursday and had an assisted tackle), and against the Eagles the former No. 1 pick Bryan had a sack, and the undrafted Gregory had two pressures. Sample, honored as a game captain for coming back from a torn Achilles that wiped out all last year, had two pressures and a top ten PFF defensive grade as he tries to lock up his spot on the edge.

LINEBACKERS (8)

Oren Burks(8),Logan Wilson(6),Joe Giles-Harris(2),Shaka Heyward(2),Maema Njongmeta(2),Craig Young(1),Barrett Carter(R),Demetrius Knight Jr.(R)

Burks, a Super Bowl starter for the Eagles last year, came back to Philly and was named PFF's top Bengals defender. He looks to have found a spot behind the starters Wilson and Knight. So has the rookie Carter.

Giles-Harris, on his fourth club in six years, showed why the coaches like his athleticism and experience Thursday night. Even though his 37-yard pick-six was reversed to just an interception. Still, he made a nimble catch off a tipped ball and was able to bounce quickly off one knee and take it to the house to force a review. When PFF reviewed the grades, he was the Bengals' top cover player of the night.

If it's August, it must mean that Njongmeta and Heyward are showing up on the stat sheet. Both had a team-high five tackles.

SECONDARY (17)

SGeno Stone(6), CBJalen Davis(5), CBMarco Wilson(5), STycen Anderson(4), CBDax Hill(4), CBCam Taylor-Britt(4), SJordan Battle(3), CBDJ Ivey(3), CBDJ Turner II(3), CBNate Brooks(2), CBJosh Newton(2), SDaijahn Anthony(2), CBLance Robinson(2), SJaylen Key(1), SP.J. Jules(1), CBBryan Lux(R), SShaquan Loyal(R).

Maybe the biggest surprise of the night is that the cornerbacks, who have looked so good in practice battling the league's best receiver tandem and MVP candidate, allowed a 100.3 passer rating to the likes of Tanner McKee, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Kyle McCord.

Taylor-Britt, Hill, and Wilson didn't play and could go in Washington. Jules, a second-year undrafted free agent, may have worked his way into the roster mix at safety with five tackles and a PFF defensive grade for the Bengals that was behind only Burks and Njongmeta.

SPECIALISTS (4)

LSCal Adomitis(4), KEvan McPherson(5), PRyan Rehkow(2), LSWilliam Wagner(R).

The Bengals feel like there are some teams still searching for long-snappers. It looks like they have two good ones. Not a great night for the defending PFF special teams title of 2024. Pre- and post-snap penalties on two field goals cost them seven points. They gave up a big punt return and had a big kick return called back.

But the feet are solid. McPherson drilled a 51-yard field goal on a night Rehkow pumped two inside the 20 to go with his obligatory boomer. This one a 54-yarder.