Bengals open 2026 practice squad with 11 signings, add OT Myles Hinton on waivers

The Cincinnati Bengals made a set of early roster moves on Monday, signing 11 players to their 2026 practice squad. The team also acquired offensive tackle Myles Hinton via waivers and released tight end Tanner Hudson as it finalized this first wave of practice-squad personnel.

Practice squad signings are a routine but meaningful part of the NFL offseason process. They allow teams to keep developing players close to the program while maintaining flexibility as injuries, performance, and game-planning needs change. For Cincinnati, these moves indicate an intent to add depth and continue building for the rigors of the regular season.

According to the Bengals’ announcement, the most notable transaction was the acquisition of Hinton on waivers. Hinton’s arrival gives Cincinnati another option at the tackle position while the organization continues to evaluate its depth chart and personnel for the coming year.

The other highlighted move was the release of Hudson. The Bengals did not frame the decision in the release beyond the roster update itself, but releases like this typically correspond to adjustments in positional needs and the pecking order of players competing for roster spots, including those who might otherwise be carried on the active roster versus the practice squad.

In addition to Hinton’s waivers claim and Hudson’s release, Cincinnati signed 11 players to its practice squad as part of the same transaction set. While the full list of names was not included in the brief materials available here, the club’s published roster update makes clear that the Bengals were establishing a complete initial practice-squad group rather than making only a single addition.

As the season approaches, the Bengals’ early practice-squad construction could matter most for how quickly the team can respond to changing needs across the offensive and defensive units. Practice squad players can be elevated under NFL rules, and teams commonly use this period to develop starters’ backups, scheme-fit specialists, and developmental prospects whose roles become clearer after organized team activities and training camp evaluations.

The immediate story for fans is straightforward: Cincinnati is adding bodies to its practice environment while swapping out a tight end spot for a tackle addition. The longer-term storyline to watch is whether the Bengals’ new practice-squad group, starting with Hinton, earns opportunities as the roster picture firms up.