Bengals activate S Russ Yeast, add TE Josh Kattus and LB Emany Johnson to practice squad

Cincinnati made a set of defensive and depth additions Thursday, moving Yeast to the active roster and bringing in two rookies to the practice squad.

By The Apex Times Newsroom1 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Bengals signed S Russ Yeast to the active roster after elevating him from the practice squad for two games earlier this season, during which he recorded three tackles.

In a corresponding move, Cincinnati released S Isaiah Nwokobia from the practice squad. Nwokobia joined the unit on Sept. 29 after coming in as a rookie out of Southern Methodist University and had spent the past two games with the team’s practice group.

Cincinnati also added rookie TE Josh Kattus to the practice squad. Kattus (6-4, 247) was originally a college free agent signee in May, spent the offseason and training camp with the Bengals, and was waived Aug. 30 before not being with a team for the first six weeks of the regular season.

To round out the practice-squad changes, the Bengals signed LB Emany Johnson (6-2, 216) to their practice squad. Johnson, a first-year player out of the University of Nevada, previously spent his rookie season on the Dallas and L.A. Chargers practice squads, then spent the entire 2025 season on the Chargers’ practice squad and was not with a team for the first six weeks of this season.

Why It Matters

The active-roster promotion indicates the Bengals want additional safety depth from a player already seeing limited game action this season.
The practice-squad additions of Kattus and Johnson expand Cincinnati’s developmental options at tight end and linebacker as roles settle.
Because these were roster-management moves rather than reported season-to-season changes, the immediate impact depends on who Cincinnati chooses to keep active game to game.
The Nwokobia release suggests the Bengals are rotating younger defensive prospects based on current needs and available roles.

Sources

Key Facts

S Russ Yeast was signed off the practice squad to the Bengals’ active roster.
Yeast had been elevated for two games earlier this season and recorded three tackles.
S Isaiah Nwokobia was released from the practice squad after spending the past two games with the team’s practice unit.
TE Josh Kattus (6-4, 247) was added to the practice squad; he was a college free agent signee in May, spent training camp with Cincinnati, and was waived Aug. 30.
LB Emany Johnson (6-2, 216) was added to the practice squad; he spent time on the Cowboys and L.A. Chargers practice squads and the entire 2025 season on the Chargers’ practice squad.