Quick thoughts on Bengals’ first depth chart, which features some surprises

The first Bengals depth chart of the season is here and features multiple surprises.

The Cincinnati Bengals issued their first depth chart of the season ahead of the Week 1 opener against the New England Patriots.

There, a few surprises stick out, so here’s a quick look at those and some general takeaways.

  • Fans will immediately notice that Mike Gesicki isn’t the top tight end—that honor belongs to Drew Sample. This perhaps signals that Gesicki will indeed be more of a slot wideout than anything. Rookie Erick All‘s quick return and rise featured him in two-tight-end sets with Sample and others during the preseason, so perhaps this plays a part, too.
  • For all the fourth-team and kick-returning stuff from the preseason, rookie Jermaine Burton is indeed the primary backup behind Ja’Marr Chase.
  • Perhaps only due to the injury, first-rounder Amarius Mims currently slots behind Trent Brown at right tackle. He’s notably the top depth name at left tackle, too.
  • Zack Moss still gets the nod over Chase Brown in the backfield.
  • Sixth-round rookie Cedric Johnson is the primary backup behind Sam Hubbard with Myles Murphy on injured reserve.
  • Dax Hill won the starting boundary corner job. Perhaps notably, he’s also the primary backup to Mike Hilton in the nickel.
  • Geno Stone and Vonn Bell are the starting safeties, though Jordan Battle is sure to get plenty of run. Breakout rookie Daijahn Anthony is a distant third behind Tycen Anderson.
  • Jermaine Burton does show up as a deep third option at punt returner.

A look at the depth chart, courtesy of the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway:

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