Just days before training camp, Cincinnati Bengals fans learned the news of their newest quarterback. It’s a homecoming years in the making, but was one of six moves the team made on July 20.
Four players were signed as one was waived and the other was released. The team now has extra insurance for Joe Burrow, who has been prone to injuries in the past. Elsewhere, one center and two defensive tackles joined the team.
Desmond Ridder Signing Takes Center Stage
Bengals fans were thrilled with the signing of Desmond Ridder as the former Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback has returned home. The 2022 3rd Round pick remains just 25-years-old as he has extensive starting experience. He’ll join Jake Browning and Payton Thorne on a thin depth chart of the Bengals other options.
Burrow already being a two time Comeback Player of the Year says everything you need to know about his past. He played only 10 games in his rookie season, as that was the same number of games he played in 2023. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best in the league. When he’s not, Cincinnati always seems to find themselves in trouble.
Now, Ridder joins his third team in three years. After playing 15 games with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023, he threw 85 passes in six games with the Las Vegas Raiders last season. Ridder has 16 touchdowns to 14 interceptions in his NFL career. He does have five rushing touchdowns as well, with all of those coming in 2023.
Even though the Falcons went 7-10 that season, Ridder brings valuable reps to the Bengals quarterback room. Browning was their go-to man in 2023 when Burrow went down. He completed 70.4% of his passes in nine games, finishing with 1,936 yards. His 15 total touchdowns were quite impressive as he only threw seven interceptions.
Andrew Raym, Taven Bryan, and McTelvin Agim Round out the Signings
We have made the following roster moves⤵️
Signed:
Agim, McTelvin (DT – Arkansas)
Bryan, Taven (DT – Florida)
Raym, Andrew (C – Oklahoma)
Ridder, Desmond (QB – Cincinnati)Waived:
Manning, Tashawn (G – Kentucky)Released:
Woodside, Logan (QB – Toledo)… pic.twitter.com/PmhnZyUdtI— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) July 20, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Andrew Raym is a center entering his second year in the league. He spent his 2024 season with the Carolina Panthers. The University of Oklahoma graduate only played one game as he remained on the practice squad.
Out of all the new signings, Taven Bryan has the most experience. He’s entering his eighth year in the league. Back in 2018, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in the 1st round. The 29-year-old has three straight 20+ tackle seasons. He played all 17 games for the Indianapolis Colts the last two seasons.
With the Shemar Stewart uncertainty, the Bengals signing two defensive tackles should come as no surprise. McTelvin Agim rounds out the list. He’s slotted two spots behind Bryan on the Bengals depth chart. The 27-year-old has plenty of time to change that as he’s only recorded six tackles in the last four seasons. In his 2020 rookie season, he had eight.
Final Two Roster Moves
Four signings means releases were a necessity. Ultimately, Tashawn Manning was waived and Logan Woodside was released.
The Woodside release comes as no surprise once Ridder joined the team. He spent the entire 2024 season on the Bengals practice squad.
For Manning, he suffered a similar fate. Practice squad was his 2024 destination as the guard should have no issue finding a new home.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Former Cincinnati Bearcats QB Headlines Bengals Latest Roster Moves appeared first on Heavy Sports.