Bengals promote Mike Pennel to the 53-man roster after Week 1, moving Lucas Patrick to IR. Cincinnati also added DE Myles Cole and DE Isaiah Foskey to the practice squad, while releasing DE Isaiah Thomas. Patrick will miss at least four games with an ankle sprain, elevating Pennel’s run-stopping role and testing the DL depth early.

Alongside the roster shuffles, the moves signal a prioritization of rotational DL talent and veteran presence on the interior. Foskey’s practice-squad signing hints at development depth for potential future activation, while Cole provides added edge rush options should injuries bite as Cincinnati navigates a grueling schedule.

Cincinnati’s final 53 will yield a 16-man practice squad focused on WR and OL depth, plus LB, CB, and a QB development lane. Pryor, Njongmeta, Kirkland, McLaughlin, Coker, Johnson III, Williams, Lux, Mayes, Moore, Milton, Ridder, and Thomas headline the group, blending speed, versatility, and special-teams value. Waiver moves will keep shuffling as injuries and matchups dictate.

The squad signals Cincinnati’s plan: gadget and depth plays on offense, heavy emphasis on special-teams roles, and a pathway for Ridder’s development behind Burrow while Milton and Kirkland grow behind the line. Expect further adjustments via the waiver wire through Week 1.

The Bengals' final-cut decisions hinge on upside versus depth. Isaiah Williams stands as a waiver-wire success story with special-teams value, but Mitchell Tinsley has the edge on roster spot, preseason production, and return ability. Tanner McLachlan's size and upside are appealing, yet Noah Fant's arrival tightens the TE group and complicates his path. Isaiah Thomas and Howard Cross III illustrate the numbers game up front, with interior depth likely forcing tough calls.

These moves reshape early fantasy angles: Williams or Tinsley could seize a Week 1 role if the WR mix shakes out, Fant could siphon targets from the rest of the TE group, and the DL churn could alter snap shares for key pass rushers while keeping the Bengals' interior rotation unsettled into the first weeks of the season.

Isaiah Thomas burst onto Cincinnati’s roster conversation with a preseason finale flourish, flashing pressures and racking up two sacks that raise doubt about his final 53-man fate. The Bengals rolled him out alongside Raymond Johnson III, McKinnley Jackson and Howard Cross III, underscoring a fierce depth battle at edge and the risk of a waiver claim if he’s cut. Dynasty and redraft managers should watch how the roster decisions unfold, since a spot could unlock a late-season rush upside or a potential practice-squad stash that teams would chase.

Thomas’s path—from a 2022 seventh-rounder with Cleveland to practice squad detours and a December return to Cincinnati—adds intrigue to the final cuts. If he doesn’t land on the 53, another organization will likely bid, shifting how fantasy rosters value Bengals pass rush depth and special-teams contributors. The next moves in Cincinnati’s depth chart will be a tell for speculative bets and late-round adds in best-ball and dynasty formats.

John Wall’s retirement closes a defining chapter for Washington fans and for fantasy leagues built around his prime. Drafted No. 1 in 2010, Wall climbed into the Wizards’ all-time elite in points, assists, steals, and 3s, anchoring four playoff runs in five years (2013-2017). His career arc ended after a 34-game stint with the Clippers in 2022-23, prompting sincere tributes from Beal, Towns, and peers. The retirement reshapes backcourt calculus across the league and spotlights the Wizards’ era Wall helped shape.

In fantasy terms, Wall’s peak delivered elite guard production when healthy: high assist and steal rates paired with explosive burst. Injuries limited sustained fantasy returns in later years, and his exit nudges teams toward younger creators and veteran mentors behind established stars. Wall’s legacy—built with pace, playmaking, and a memorable Kentucky-to-Wizards pipeline—serves as a benchmark for dynasty watchers while quietly recalibrating guard depth and value across rosters.