With both the UFL and NFL in their offseason lulls, it's the perfect time to dive into some offseason content. As the UFL awaits the next wave of NFL signings for the 2026 player acquisition cycle, we're taking a look back at how each NFL team has utilized spring football as a developmental pipeline during the modern era of spring football since 2022. We continue the series with the Cincinnati Bengals, highlighting every spring league player the organization has signed over the past four years.
2022 Cycle:
With the return of the USFL, the Bengals would sign two players both from the Houston Gamblers. Domenique Davis (Houston Gamblers), and Tegray Scales (Houston Gamblers) would earn a spot on the Bengals practice squad throughout the 2022 season, with Davis receiving several elevations. Scales would be released during the 2022 season, however, Davis would spend almost three seasons with the team, until signing with the Steelers in 2025.
2023 Cycle:
Due to a season ending injury to Joe Burrow, the Bengals would lean on the XFL for support and reinforcement in their quarterback room. The Bengals would sign A.J. McCarron (St. Louis Battlehawks), Drew Plitt (Arlington Renegades), and Reid Sinnett (San Antonio Brahmas) throughout the 2023 season. Sinnett would stay on the team’s practice squad till his release in October, with the team signing A.J. McCarron joining the team as their QB2 behind Jake Browning. The team also brought in Drew Plitt, who spent the majority of the season on their practice squad as well. All three players would not be resigned and returned to the newly form UFL in 2024.
2024 Cycle:
The Bengals signed three players in the post merger UFL. Hakeem Butler (St. Louis Battlehawks), Nate Brooks (Michigan Panthers) and Carlos Davis (Birmingham Stallions) all earned contracts with Cincinnati during the 2024 cycle, all of which earned All-UFL honors during the UFL season. While Butler, and Davis were released at the conclusion of training camp, Nate Brooks would find a spot on the practice squad for the season. Brooks would be released at the conclusion of training camp in 2025.
2025 Cycle:
The Bengals did not sign any players from the UFL in 2025.
Since the return of the USFL in 2022, the Bengals have signed eight players to contracts, with spring football ties. The team has seen multiple players earn opportunities on their practice squad, with McCarron, and Davis appearing in games for the team.. The Bengals have yet to sign any spring football players during the 2026 signing cycle and have no players with spring football ties on their roster currently. UFL to NFL signings will continue once the teams begin training camp, later in July.