The Cincinnati Bengals shut down Sheldon Rankins for the season ahead of Week 18 and attempted to bridge the gap on the waiver wire.
Unfortunately for the Bengals, a handful of other teams were all over the exact same move.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bengals were one of four teams that attempted to claim former Washington Commanders defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis.
Mathis, a second-round pick in 2022, ended up going to the New York Jets.
The Bengals need immediate depth on the defensive line to finish out the season and any potential playoff run, but Mathis would’ve been a nicer, long-term grab to develop, too.
Either way, rookies Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson remain the future there.
Given this, though, expect the Bengals to be in on other names at the spot right after the season ends, if not this week.