NFL insider projects Bengals will make unfortunate roster move for newly injured player

Heyward, a former undrafted free agent signing of the Bengals from 2023, spent most of his first two years in Cincinnati on the practice squad and ended up playing in six games during the 2024 season. He made the opening day roster this year and has appeared in all seven games thus far.

Heyward has not appeared for the Bengals' defense this year; he's contributed exclusively on special teams and is fourth on the team in snaps for that unit. That alone makes this injury notable and becomes another obstacle for the team at his position.

Bengals already dealing with linebacker woes

Things aren't going much better on the depth chart in front of Heyward. Starters Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. are struggling to put together complete games. Logan Wilson is a few weeks removed from being benched and has since requested a trade.

Outside of Heyward, Oren Burks is the only player behind the mess at the top of the position. Burks has played sparingly on defense, but he's the clubhouse leader in special teams snaps with 189. Heyward has logged 130.

Cincinnati was one step ahead of Heyward's injury last week by elevating Joe Giles-Harris from the practice squad. Giles-Harris essentially took Heyward's role on special teams and played 18 snaps against the Jets.

If a move to IR is in the cards for Heyward, Giles-Harris would make sense as his roster replacement. The club could also elevate Giles-Harris twice more without signing him to the roster. Defensive end Cedric Johnson has already been cleared to practice and has 15 days to be activated to the roster, so he could also take Heyward's spot.

Bengals players currently on Injured Reserve

• S Daijahn Anthony
• QB Joe Burrow
• TE Mike Gesicki
• DE Cedric Johnson
• G Cordell Volson

Cincinnati will want to decide on Heyward sometime before Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears. The roster will have 53 players on it, one way or another.