John Breech· Jul 30, 2026
The piece reports that Cincinnati is committing to second-year players Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight as its starting linebackers in 2026, and says early camp returns suggest the gamble may work. It also hedges that Shemar Stewart could return by Week 1 and that Andrei Iosivas' familiarity may help him hold the No. 3 receiver job.
“The Bengals doubled down and made it clear that Carter and Knight would be their starting linebackers in 2026.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
2 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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Who this take is about
2 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Depth Chart CallsBarrett CarterJul 30, 2026
Barrett Carter to be 1st on the depth chart
“the Bengals doubled down and made it clear that Carter and Knight would be their starting linebackers in 2026”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDemetrius Knight Jr.Jul 30, 2026
Demetrius Knight Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
“the Bengals doubled down and made it clear that Carter and Knight would be their starting linebackers in 2026”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Kyle CrabbsMock Draft Picks · Barrett CarterHit · 92Crabbs projects all seven rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, starting with Cam Ward going No. 1 overall to Tennessee, Travis Hunter second to Cleveland and Abdul Carter third to the Giants.
- Lance ZierleinPosition Order Calls · Demetrius Knight Jr.Close · 50Zierlein raised his draft evaluations after Thursday's workouts: Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman moved into his top 100, South Carolina's Demetrius Knight could be the first inside linebacker drafted, and Caine Medrano went from undrafted to draftable on his board.
- Jay MorrisonDepth Chart Calls · Barrett CarterPendingFollowing the preseason opener against Detroit, Morrison updated his Cincinnati Bengals 53-man roster projection, naming starters and backups at every position group and identifying which players are on the bubble.
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