Bengals sign Russ Yeast to active roster in four post-bye moves
Cincinnati promoted the safety, released Isaiah Nwokobia and added Josh Kattus and Emany Johnson to its practice squad as it prepared for Baltimore.
The Cincinnati Bengals signed safety Russ Yeast from their practice squad to the active roster on October 20, the team announced. They also released safety Isaiah Nwokobia and signed tight end Josh Kattus and linebacker Emany Johnson to the practice squad. The moves give Cincinnati a new active-roster option at safety as it prepares for the Baltimore Ravens after its bye week, according to Bengals Wire.
Russ Yeast joins the active roster
Yeast, a third-year player, had already been elevated from the practice squad for two games this season and recorded three tackles, the Bengals said. Signing him to the active roster changes his roster status after those temporary appearances. The team did not give a reason for the promotion.
Bengals Wire reported that safeties Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger had dealt with injuries before the bye. That provides context for Cincinnati’s safety depth, though the Bengals did not say those injuries prompted Yeast’s promotion. Bengals Wire also reported that tight end Tanner Hudson had gone on injured reserve.
Three changes to Cincinnati’s practice squad
Nwokobia’s release opened a practice-squad place. The rookie safety from Southern Methodist University joined Cincinnati’s practice squad on September 29 and spent the team’s previous two games there, according to the Bengals. The team then added Kattus and Johnson to the squad while moving Yeast onto the active roster.
Kattus, a rookie tight end from the University of Kentucky, first signed with the Bengals as a college free agent in May. He spent the offseason and training camp with Cincinnati before the team waived him on August 30. The Bengals said he had not been with a team through the first six weeks of this regular season.
Johnson is a first-year linebacker from the University of Nevada. He signed with Dallas as a college free agent in 2024, then spent his rookie season on the Cowboys’ and Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squads, the Bengals said. He remained on the Chargers’ practice squad throughout the 2025 season and, according to Cincinnati, was not with a team for the first six weeks of 2026.
Bengals Wire also reported that Cincinnati claimed linebacker Jack Kiser on waivers during the bye week after an injury to Swayze Bozeman. That was a separate move from the four transactions the Bengals announced on October 20.
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Sources and context
- Bengals make roster moves after bye weekBengals Wire (republished by Yahoo Sports)
- Bengals Sign Russ Yeast to Active Roster, Josh Kattus and Emany Johnson Added to Practice Squad | BENGALS ROSTER UPDATECincinnati Bengals Communications
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.