Bengals' pending roster move with Daijahn Anthony signals another corresponding move to follow

Anthony, one of Cincinnati's seventh-round picks from the 2024 NFL Draft, suffered his hamstring injury during the team's preseason Week 3 game against the Indianapolis Colts after playing 23 snaps on the day.

Anthony spent his entire rookie season on the 53-man roster last year and played in 13 games, making appearances on defense in six of them. He began training camp this year as the fourth safety on the depth chart, and based on this news, he maintained that role.

The Bengals can either keep Anthony on their initial 53-man roster in order to place him on I.R. with the plan of designating him to return after the first few weeks of the season, or they can designate him as one of two exemptions. If they placed him on I.R. before finalizing the 53 without making him an exemption, he would have to miss the entire year.

Once Anthony is moved to I.R., Cincinnati will be down a depth piece at safety. This is where a corresponding move could be conducted.

Bengals now primed to add backup safety

The top three safeties for the Bengals' defense are set with starters Geno Stone and Jordan Battle, and Tycen Anderson as the first one off the bench. Until Anthony returns from his hamstring injury, a fourth will be needed.

That fourth could be PJ Jules, a former undrafted free agent who played well this preseason for them, but it's more likely going to be a free agent or recently-waived safety.

UPDATE: Jules has made the team according to WLWT's Charlie Clifford.

It's crucial for Cincinnati to shore up depth at the safety spot. All four players are typically active on game days due to special teams importance. In addition, Stone is also coming off a minor injury, and Battle is a Week 1 starter for the first time in his three-year career. Uncertainty can be mitigated by adding someone with experience who can fill Anthony's role for the time being.

Cincinnati is 17th in the waiver claim order, the same as their spot in the 2025 draft order. The club can place claims on waived players from 4:00 p.m. ET this afternoon until 12:00 p.m. ET Wednesday afternoon.