The Bengals failed to claim anyone off waivers on Wednesday, losing a bid to the 49ers for Jordan Jefferson. Cincinnati was 17th in waiver priority, while San Francisco sat at 11, with 24 of 28 claimed players having a higher spot. Jefferson, a 2024 fourth-round pick, flashed in eight games with 12 tackles and a sack. Cincinnati already carries six defensive tackles and could cut one to clear room for Dalton Risner, who signed Wednesday. The ripple: would the risk of losing Jefferson have altered Risner’s move or the interior‑line plan?

Jefferson’s departure would not only shift depth charts but highlight Cincinnati’s ongoing DT search. The Bengals’ current interior group—Slaton, Hill, Jenkins Jr., Jackson, Cross III and Gregory—faces notable turnover pressure if Jefferson had landed. Risner’s addition then factors into a larger turnover narrative, suggesting Cincinnati remains intent on bolstering both lines as the season progresses, with potential fantasy implications depending on who stays and who goes.