The Cincinnati Bengals have nearly 60 players who could be subject to waivers as they look to cut down from 90 players to 53 by the August 26 deadline and beyond.
Of course, several players on their rookie contracts should be safe from getting waived, such as offensive tackle Amarius Mims. But if any of these players are waived this week, they will be subject to the waiver wire pool and can be claimed by another team.
If not, they can be a part of Cincinnati’s 16-man practice squad, which will likely be finalized the day after the cutdown date.
Which Cincinnati Bengals are subject to waivers?
HB Tahj Brooks
LB Barrett Carter
HB Quali Conley
DT Howard Cross III
OT Caleb Etienne
G Dylan Fairchild
DT Eric Gregory
LB Demetrius Knight Jr.
S Shaquan Loyal
CB Bralyn Lux
WR Jamoi Mayes
C Seth McLaughlin
WR Jordan Moore
WR Rashod Owens
OT Jalen Rivers
DE Shemar Stewart
QB Payton Thorne
LS William Wagner
CB Nate Brooks
WR Cole Burgess
OT Andrew Coker
S PJ Jules
S Jaylen Key
HB Kendall Milton
LB Craig Young
S Daijahn Anthony
WR Jermaine Burton
LB Joe Giles-Harris
TE Cam Grandy
LB Shaka Heyward
DT McKinnley Jackson
DT Kris Jenkins Jr.
DE Cedric Johnson
DE Raymond Johnson III
G Jaxson Kirkland
C Matt Lee
TE Tanner McLachlan
OT Amarius Mims
CB Josh Newton
LB Maema Njongmeta
WR Kendric Pryor
C Andrew Raym
P Ryan Rehkow
CB Lance Robinson
OT Andrew Stueber
WR Mitchell Tinsley
WR Isaiah Williams
DT McTelvin Agim
S Jordan Battle
HB Chase Brown
QB Jake Browning
OT Devin Cochran
WR Andrei Iosivas
CB DJ Ivey
WR Charlie Jones
DE Myles Murphy
DE Isaiah Thomas
CB DJ Turner II
What is waivers in the NFL?
As the final preparations begin for the season, teams will make massive changes to their roster, either waiving or releasing players. But not all players instantly become free agents and are free to sign with any team.
Well, when a player is ‘waived,’ they are subject to the waiver wire, where any team can claim them and assume their current contract. Currently, the waiver wire order (listed below) is dependent on the NFL Draft order from this past April, but without any trades.
Teams will file waiver claims at the same time, but only the team with the highest claim will successfully ‘claim’ the player and their current contract.
Which NFL players are subject to go on waivers and not be released?
Whether or not a player enters the waiver wire of becomes a free agent depends on a player’s NFL service time. Players with at least four years of accrued NFL service time are outright released. If a player is released, their contract has ended, and they’re eligible to sign with any team.
However, if a player has less than four years of service time, they are waived and subject to waiver wire claims. Any player who is not claimed after being waived is eligible to sign wherever they’d like, including their former team’s practice squad.
Mainly, the group of players getting waived is those who are currently not eligible for unrestricted free agency status entering the year. They would be an Exclusive Rights Free Agent (less than three years of service) or a Restricted Free Agent (three years of service).
What is the NFL waiver order right now?
The NFL waiver order during the preseason and the first three weeks of the regular season mirrors the 2025 NFL Draft order. Once we get through four games, it resets to the current NFL standings. So the Titans have first crack at every player on waivers.