The Cincinnati Bengals moved quickly to address their linebacker depth on Saturday, claiming Jack Kiser on waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars while placing Swayze Bozeman on injured reserve.
It was a straightforward roster update, but one that matters. The Bengals opened a spot by moving Bozeman to the reserve/injured list after he suffered a forearm injury in yesterday's game at Miami, then filled that vacancy by bringing in Kiser.
What Jack Kiser brings to Cincinnati
Kiser arrives with some recent NFL experience and a clear role profile. The 231-pound linebacker played in 14 regular-season games for Jacksonville last season, recording 10 defensive tackles and four special teams tackles.
He was drafted by the Jaguars in the fourth round in 2025, and his route through this season has already included a mix of roster movement. Earlier this season, he was inactive for three games and spent one game on Jacksonville's practice squad.
Bozeman's injury opens the door
Bozeman's move to injured reserve was the other key part of the transaction cycle. His forearm injury at Miami forced Cincinnati to make a change immediately, and the Bengals used the open roster spot to claim Kiser.
For a team trying to maintain flexibility at linebacker, the swap gives Cincinnati another option right away. The next question is how quickly Kiser can settle in if he is asked to contribute on defense or special teams.
