‘He’s done a great job’: former Riders star Dohnte Meyers caps impressive preseason for Cincinnati Bengals

Photo courtesy: Ryan Meyer/Cincinnati Bengals.

With final roster cuts looming, there is nothing left for Dohnte Meyers to do but wait.

The former Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver capped his impressive run of preseason play for the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday night, hauling in three passes for a team-high 51 yards in a 30-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. All of that production came on the game’s first series — the only drive he was allowed to play all night.

“I’m happy with the way today went,” Meyers told ESPN1530’s Mike Petraglia post-game. “One drive is all I got today, but I’m happy with the way that drive went, and I was able to go out there and compete well, maximize the opportunity that I was given today.”

Meyers’ brief final audition included a 25-yard catch-and-run on a crossing route, as well as a key conversion on third-and-seven. His lack of snaps afterwards is likely a positive sign, though he was given no indication that was the plan entering the game.

“I wasn’t made aware of any play restriction or play limit, so every opportunity means something,” he said. “I didn’t know if it was one catch, one opportunity, one drive. When I’m playing football, I’m very competitive, so I’m trying to make every play and make the most out of it.”

Dohnte Meyers needs to plant his hind parts on the bench. I’ve seen enough. Get ready for Week 1, No. 81💪 pic.twitter.com/NECVi2Zp7G

— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) August 29, 2026

Meyers established himself as a fan favourite following Cincinnati’s first preseason game, when franchise quarterback Joe Burrow revealed that the receiver dropped everything to drive seven hours overnight from Atlanta to attend a last-minute throwing session.

The 26-year-old has also drawn praise from All-Pro receiver Ja’Marr Chase during training camp, and veteran backup quarterback Josh Johnson remarked following the second preseason game that teammates had been excited about Meyers potential since the spring, noting that he “pops off the tape.”

“There’s a lot of guys that come out to training camp, kind of in Dohnte’s shoes, where it’s a first chance to make an impression in a camp, in the first week, 10 days, they make a splash, and then they fizzle out. He’s been consistent throughout,” head coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Friday. “I think that says a lot about him. He’s trying to take advantage of the opportunity. He’s done a great job of that.”

Through three preseason games, Meyers has now caught 11 passes for 121 yards and rushed twice for 22 yards, while adding 99 return yards. He has received reps with the starting unit and has reportedly been catching extra passes after practice to build chemistry with Burrow, a strong indication that he will make the active roster.

A Division II standout at Delta State, the five-foot-11, 186-pound receiver was almost completely overlooked by the NFL coming out of college and worked as a DoorDash delivery driver before paying $100 to attend an open tryout for the Roughriders.

He made Saskatchewan’s roster as a rookie and appeared in four games, notching 24 receptions for 349 yards and one score. His production exploded in year two, as he caught 65 passes for 1,056 yards and eight touchdowns. Meyers was named a West Division all-star and helped the Riders to win the 112th Grey Cup.

The Bengals will need to make their final roster cuts on Sunday, August 30, by 6:00 p.m. EDT, whittling their current contingent down to a 53-man roster. Meyers appears to have carved out a role for himself, but nothing is ever certain in the NFL.