With the Cincinnati Bengals season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers less than a month away, the team must still make some tough decisions as they reduce their roster to 53 players.
During that period, players on the bubble will still have an opportunity to fight for a roster spot. Perhaps surprisingly, Cincinnati’s wide receiver room is one that has shined this training camp, and that means the Bengals may have to part ways with some talented players.
Now, one Bengals analyst has put one receiver on notice, despite him re-signing with Cincinnati this offseason.
Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Put on Notice
Ahead of the team’s second preseason game, Bengals Wire’s Chris Roling listed seven Cincinnati Bengals players who needed bounce-back showings in the team’s second preseason game.
Among those players was wide receiver Kendric Pryor. Roling also listed receivers Charlie Jones and Mitch Tinsley, as he wrote: “Dohnte Meyers is seriously starting to run away with a roster spot. Rookie Colbie Young, meanwhile, might take the No. 3 spot. They brought on return specialist Ke’Shawn Williams via waivers last year, so that might end Jones’ tenure. Pryor and Tinsley are good players, so if Young keeps ascending, maybe we see a shock cut like Andrei Iosivas to fit them? Hard to say, but they can’t keep more than six.”
Pryor re-signed with Cincinnati this offseason before he was officially a free agent. In the announcement of his signing, Cincinnati posted on their website: “Pryor, who will be a second-year player in 2026, has spent the majority of the past three seasons (’23-25) on Cincinnati’s practice squad. He played in two games for the Bengals as a practice squad elevation in 2024, recording one reception for nine yards and two kickoff returns for 43 yards.”
Pryor has had two stints with the Bengals. He signed with Cincinnati as an undrafted free agent in 2022, before the team waived him and the Jaguars claimed him. Following roster cuts by the Jaguars in 2023, he returned to the Bengals, where he has spent the last three seasons.
Kendric Pryor Player Profile
Regarding Pryor as a player, prior to him coming into the NFL, SB Nation writer Owen Riese described Pryor as “An explosive athlete at the position. He has above average straight line speed and is an impressive athlete linearly. Has shown strong hands throughout his Badgers career. Has experience both on the perimeter and in the slot. Willing as a blocker.”
Unfortunately, despite his experience with the team due to those years on the practice squad, Pryor has not had an opportunity to truly showcase his skillset at the NFL level. And if he does not perform well during his preseason opportunities, that may not change.
A to Z Sports’ John Sheeran gave him a 10% chance of securing a roster spot this offseason, as he wrote: “The Bengals absolutely love Pryor. . .on the practice squad. They cherish the ability to call him up when needed, always keeping him in their back pocket. That will probably be the case again this year barring others becoming better options for the role.”
With Dohnte Meyers impressing through the first weeks of training camp, Pryor will likely need a major showing over the next few weeks if he wants to make a push for the 53.
‘Explosive’ Bengals Wide Receiver Put on Notice Amid Cut Speculation