As NFL teams get ready to begin the process of trimming down their rosters the Cincinnati Bengals got a head start on the process. The Bengals after their preseason loss to the Colts on Thursday Night released 11 players, most notable to UFL fans was Hakeem Butler the UFL’s Offensive Player of the Year and Battlehawks standout.
Butler signed with the Bengals on July 26th, his 5th NFL team after his All-UFL season. Butler appeared in Three Preseason games (limited action in preseason week 3) recording 1 reception for 12 yards. The 6-6 Iowa State product has recorded 96 receptions for 1251 yards and 13 TDs over Two seasons with the Battlehawks. At 28, going on 29 it’s unclear to know if Butler will play another season in the UFL if not signed by another NFL team.
Cincinnati has signed 8 Spring Football players since 2022 with Carlos Davis (2024 UFL Birmingham Stallions), Domenique Davis (2022 USFL Houston Gamblers), and Nate Brooks (2024 Michigan Panthers), along with Tegray Scales (2022 USFL Houston Gamblers), A.J. McCarron (2023 XFL St. Louis Battlehawks), Reid Sinnett (2023 XFL San Antonio Brahmas), and Drew Plitt (2023 XFL Arlington Renegades) all spending time on their Active Roster or Practice Squad. Also released, was Fourth String QB Rocky Lombardi who was drafted by Michigan Panthers in the UFL’s 2024 College Draft, who was ironically beat out by Logan Woodside a former member of the AAF’s San Antonio Commanders.
Butler is now second Battlehawk to be released (Jacob Saylors was signed by the Cleveland Browns after his release by the Giants), as NFL teams prepare to trim down their roster. Final cuts for NFL teams will take place on August 27th, as teams will have to get down to 53 players. The Battlehawks will retain Butlers rights if he chooses to remain with the UFL.
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