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Bengals keep Randy Bullock in kicking competition with draft pick Jake Elliott

Eric Winston, Wallace Gilberry miss cut to 53
Posted at 3:19 PM, Sep 02, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-02 20:20:03-04

CINCINNATI — The Bengals decided to stick with kicker Randy Bullock on Saturday, the most important decision they had to make in their roster moves before the season opener.

The Bengals terminated the contracts of veteran OT Eric Winston, president of the NFL Players Association, and DE Wallace Gilberry in two of 30 moves the team needed to reach the NFL roster limit of 53.

Bullock competed with fifth-round pick Jake Elliott during the preseason, alternating kicks during the four games. Bullock missed one field goal attempt, Elliott missed three. Both missed their final attempt during a preseason game in Indianapolis on Thursday night.

Coach Marvin Lewis said it came down not only to the preseason games but how they did in practice and training camp. Although Elliott had the advantage at the outset — the Bengals rarely get rid of a draft pick so quickly — Bullock got to keep the job. He finished last season after Mike Nugent was released.

"There's a lot of data," Lewis said. "If it was anything close, Jake would have the job."

Lewis said during a conference call Saturday that the Bengals would consider signing Elliott to their practice squad if no other team claimed him.

In other moves:

The Bengals cut LB PJ Dawson, DE Marcus Hardison and DT DeShawn Williams.

The team also acquired a conditional sixth-round draft pick in the 2019 NFL Draft in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys for cornerback Bene Benwikere.

Other players waived Saturday:

  • LB Bryson Albright
  • LB Brandon Bell
  • WR Chris Brown
  • DE Ryan Brown
  • DE Will Clarke
  • S Demetrious Cox
  • DT David Dean
  • G J.J. Dielman
  • FB Darrin Laufasa
  • OT Landon Lechler
  • G Cameron Lee
  • CB Tony McRae
  • OT Kent Perkins
  • WR Alonzo Russell
  • G Dustin Stanton
  • DF Josh Tupou
  • WR Kermit Whitfield
  • HB Jarveon Williams
  • S Brandon Wilson

HB Tra Carson is on the Reserved/Injured list for a groin injury, as is TEMason Schreck for a knee injury. They are out for the season.

LB Vontaze Burfict and CB Adam Jones were placed on the Reserve/Suspended by Commissioner list, Burfict for three games and Jones for one.

All of the players waived Saturday, except Clarke, will be eligible to be signed to an NFL practice squad if they clear waivers Sunday. That's when the Bengals plan to announce a practice squad of up to 10 players.

Winston, a 12th-year tackle and president of the NFL players union, recently told WCPO he saw trouble ahead for the league when the collective bargaining agreement expires in 2021. Winston and Gilberry are now free agents.