Bengals waive three players

The Cincinnati Bengals waived defensive tackle Zach Minter and wide receivers Jeremy Johnson and Conner Vernon today.

Johnson and Vernon were signed July 24, the day before training camp began, to provide depth at wide receiver while Marvin Jones and Ryan Whalen were on the Non-Football Injury and Physically Unable to Perform lists, respectively.

The duo returned to practice in limited fashion earlier this week, and the releasing of Johnson and Vernon would seem to indicate Jones and Whalen are ready to participate in full 11-on-11 work when practice resumes Saturday.

Minter, a second-year player from Montana State, signed a futures contract with the Bengals on Dec. 30, 2013, after being released by the Chicago Bears.

He spent the first week of training camp on the PUP list with a back injury but recently returned to action and played nine snaps in Thursday night’s 41-39 loss at Kansas City in the preseason opener.

Vernon played 12 snaps and his only reception was good for a 12-yard touchdown pass from Matt Scott late in the game. Johnson was in for 10 snaps and had one reception for 11 yards.

The moves bring the Bengals roster to 86 players, four below the limit.

The team will hold its second of two Family Day practices inside Paul Brown Stadium from 3-4:30 p.m. Saturday.

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