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By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
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Training camp is officially underway for several NFL teams while others will be easing into camp throughout the next week.
The Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers kick off the 2026 preseason with their Hall of Fame Game clash on Thursday, Aug. 6 on NBC, and Week 1 of the preseason officially kicks off the following week on Aug. 13.
As we count down the days until the start of the NFL regular season — which kicks off with a Super Bowl LX rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots on “Sunday Night Football” on Sept. 9 — we continue to look at key offseason storylines for each of the league’s 32 teams.
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This week, we’re looking as the players most in danger of being cut during the preseason, and we’ve arrived at the Cincinnati Bengals.
Drew Sample, TE
The Bengals have a surplus of tight ends, and not all seven of them will be on the team’s 53-man roster.
Mike Gesicki is the lone lock, but Tanner Hudson will presumably make it as well. That leaves Erick All Jr., Cam Grandy, Josh Kattus, Drew Sample, and seventh-round rookie Jack Endries to compete for one spot.
Sample had one good year back in 2020 (40 catches, 349 yards, and a touchdown), but he’s played a reserve role ever since. With a $2.85 million salary, Sample is the most expensive of the Bengals TEs outside of Gesicki, which could put him on the chopping block.
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McKinnley Jackson, DT
Two years into his NFL career, and Jackson has failed to live up to his potential as a former third-round pick. He’s totaled just 22 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and 2.5 run stuffs.
Unfortunately for Jackson, the Bengals made a monster effort to revamp their defense this offseason, especially their defensive line. They brought in former first-round pick Jonathan Allen and traded for three-time Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence as well.
Cincinnati also has several solid depth pieces in Howard Cross III, B.J. Hill, Jordan Jefferson, Kris Jenkins Jr., Landon Robinson, and T.J. Slaton Jr., and Jackson could end up on the chopping block by the time the preseason ends.
Cody Ford, OL
Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims are likely Cincinnati’s starting tackles, and Cody Ford making $2.9 million makes him an expensive depth offensive lineman.
The Bengals have three rookies — Brian Parker II, Corey Robinson II, and Christian Jones — who all could use playing time, which could make Ford expendable when roster cutdown day comes.
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