Bengals: 53-man roster
Quarterbacks (2): Andy Dalton, AJ McCarron
Running backs (4): Jeremy Hill, Giovani Bernard, Cedric Peerman, Rex Burkhead
Wide receivers (6): A.J. Green, Marvin Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Brandon Tate, Greg Little, Mario Alford
Tight ends/H-backs (4): Tyler Eifert, Ryan Hewitt, Tyler Kroft, C.J. Uzomah
Offensive linemen (8): Andrew Whitworth, Andre Smith, Clint Boling, Kevin Zeitler, Russell Bodine, Eric Winston, Jake Fisher, T.J. Johnson
Defensive linemen (10): Carlos Dunlap, Michael Johnson, Geno Atkins, Domata Peko, Wallace Gilberry, Brandon Thompson, Pat Sims, Margus Hunt, Will Clarke, Marcus Hardison
Linebackers (6): Rey Maualuga, A.J. Hawk, Vinny Rey, Emmanuel Lamur, P.J. Dawson, Chris Carter
Cornerbacks (6): Dre Kirkpatrick, Adam Jones, Leon Hall, Darqueze Dennard, Josh Shaw, Chris Lewis-Harris
Safety (4); Reggie Nelson, George Iloka, Shawn Williams, Derron Smith
Specialists (3): Mike Nugent, Kevin Huber, Clark Harris
PUP list: Vontaze Burfict, Cedric Ogbuehi, Sean Porter
The news wasn’t any easier for Marvin Lewis to deliver than it was for Devon Still to hear, but the Cincinnati Bengals are moving on without the veteran defensive tackle who provided one of the better feel-good stories in the sports world the past 15 months.
Still, who became a household name when he went public with his daughter Leah’s battle with cancer, was one of 19 players the Bengals released Saturday in order to get down to the 53-man roster limit.
“It’s always a hard thing,” Lewis said. “Devon had a good preseason for us, and he’s got to feel good about that. He put a good foot forward. An opportunity will come, whether it comes here down the line or somewhere else.”
The Bengals also released Still on cutdown day last year but were able to bring him back thanks to a new rule that gave each team an additional two spots on their practice squad for players who had previously surpassed the playing time limit.
Because he appeared in 12 games for the Bengals in 2014, he no longer is eligible for the practice squad. But because he played in those games, Still passed the service-time threshold to ensure he and his family will have five years of medical benefits from the day he leaves the NFL.
Shortly after the cuts were announced, Still posted a message for the Bengals and their fans:
“Have nothing but love for the Bengals organization and the city of Cincinnati. Both helped me through one of the darkest times of my life and I am forever grateful. It’s time to move forward and see what’s next. #iKnowThereIsAPlanForMe”
The other big name on the list of roster moves was linebacker Vontaze Burfict, whom the Bengals placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list, which means Burfict will miss at least the first six games of the season and will not count against the 53-man roster during that time.
Lewis said placing Burfict on PUP list was a tough call.
“It was a very difficult decision and one frankly that could have broke either way,” Lewis said. “I think really what came down at the end is the best thing for Vontaze’s future is for us to make sure we give him enough time and not rush him back onto the field.”
Lewis said he expects Burfict, who had microfracture surgery on his right knee in January, to be 100 percent for the seventh game of the season, which will be Nov. 1 at Pittsburgh.
The team also placed Marquis Flowers and Jayson DiManche on season-ending Injured Reserve after both linebackers suffered injuries Thursday night in the preseason finale at Indianapolis.
The 16 other players who were waived were: wide receiver Michael Bennett, guard Dan France, cornerback Brandon Ghee, guard Tanner Hawkinson, cornerback Troy Hill, guard Trey Hopkins, safety Shiloh Keo, wide receiver Jake Kumerow, tight end Matt Lengel, kicker Tom Obarski, tackle Matthew O’Donnell, safety Floyd Raven Sr., linebacker Trevor Roach, center Jake Smith, running back Terrell Watson, quarterback Keith Wenning, running back James Wilder Jr. and defensive tackle DeShawn Williams.
Only Still, Ghee and Keo are not eligible to be re-signed to the practice squad. Any of the remaining players who clear waivers can be added to the Bengals practice squad.
Among the players thought to be on the roster bubble who made the team are wide receiver Greg Little, linebacker Chris Carter and cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris.
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