The Cincinnati Bengals have lost a few notable names from the practice squad to start the 2025 NFL season.
Linebacker Maema Njongmeta is the latest, with WLWT’s Charlie Clifford reporting the Carolina Panthers claimed him off Cincinnati’s practice squad to start the week.
RELATED: Joe Burrow injury updates: Latest on Bengals QB after Week 2 injury
Njongmeta was an undrafted success story just one year ago when he made the final roster for the Bengals. This year, he got let go at final cuts, but quickly signed to the practice squad and was an obvious top addition to the roster if necessary.
Instead, the Panthers swoop in and grab Njongmeta, leaving the Bengals with just Joe Giles-Harris at linebacker on the practice squad, barring any other moves.
The Bengals simply ran out of room on the 53, with rookie Demetrius Knight starting next to Logan Wilson and both rookie Barrett Carter and veteran free-agent signing Oren Burks in key backup roles. Shaka Heyward’s continued breakout earned him the fifth and final spot.
RELATED: Bengals first-round rookie Shemar Stewart suffers injury vs. Jaguars
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals lose undrafted breakout story to Panthers on waiver wire
Reporting by Chris Roling, Bengals Wire / Bengals Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
