Bengals set roster trim in moves QB Josh Johnson into next chapter

The Cincinnati Bengals are releasing quarterback Josh Johnson as part of their Sunday roster cutdown to 53 players, according to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that was picked up by Yahoo Sports. The move puts Johnson, a journeyman quarterback over multiple NFL stops, on the free-agent market after camp work that had him in the mix behind Cincinnati’s top established options.

The Bengals’ quarterback room entering the preseason emphasized the pecking order, with Johnson working behind Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco. Sean Clifford was also on hand this summer, giving Cincinnati multiple experienced-looking paths for quarterback depth as the team moved toward the league-mandated roster limit.

For Johnson, the timing matters. Cutdown day reshapes a team’s internal options quickly, and it also determines who can be signed elsewhere fast enough to contribute in the weeks leading into the regular season. The NFL’s roster limit forces teams to make decisions not just about talent, but also about redundancy at positions, practice-squad needs, and how much developmental value a third or fourth quarterback can offer.

Cincinnati’s decision also underscores how teams evaluate quarterback depth in real time. With Burrow and Flacco positioned as the primary starters and upper-end backup roles, the remaining quarterback competition becomes about who can operate the offense efficiently enough to run scout-team looks, protect the playbook during game weeks, and be ready if an opening appears due to performance or circumstance.

What the release means for the Bengals’ immediate outlook is straightforward, even if the fine details remain fluid at this stage of camp. By removing Johnson from the roster picture, Cincinnati narrows the list of quarterbacks who can dress, practice, and be retained as the team finishes its final preseason evaluations.

The report frames Johnson as the third point of the depth chart behind Burrow and Flacco, with Clifford also present during the summer. Clifford’s presence suggests Cincinnati still intends to maintain quarterback continuity and a backup plan built around players already working through the team’s system. How that translates to who ends up on the 53-man roster ultimately depends on what the Bengals see in the final days of preseason preparation.

In the wider NFL landscape, Johnson’s release is the kind of transaction that tends to replay across teams each year. Veteran backups often cycle through rosters as contenders and rebuilding teams manage salary, roster math, and readiness concerns. Johnson’s next destination, if he signs quickly, would likely reflect the most urgent needs among teams still finalizing their quarterback depth.

For Bengals fans, the next watch point is the post-cut roster reveal, followed by the early regular-season depth chart order as the team begins the process of narrowing roles game by game. If Cincinnati keeps Clifford in the mix, the primary story becomes how quickly the remaining quarterback options can translate camp reps into usable game-day situations.