{"id":254271,"date":"2025-11-11T13:15:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T18:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=254271"},"modified":"2025-11-11T13:15:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T18:15:43","slug":"recent-linebacker-additions-should-give-bengals-defense-a-boost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/11\/11\/recent-linebacker-additions-should-give-bengals-defense-a-boost\/","title":{"rendered":"Recent Linebacker Additions Should Give Bengals Defense a Boost"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> have been a disaster defensively for most of the season. This is especially evident at the linebacker position, where they are starting two rookies in the form of Demetrius Knight Jr<\/a>. and Barrett Carter<\/a>, who takes over for the departing Logan Wilson. Knight and Carter have struggled mightily, but the team and head coach Zac Taylor believe in them and the leadership qualities both men bring to the table. In the NFL, you need depth throughout your roster, and Cincinnati received a much-needed jolt to bolster the linebacker room with the additions of Brian Asamoah II, who was signed to the active roster yesterday, and Antwaun Powell-Ryland to the practice squad. Asamoah played for the Minnesota Vikings<\/a> from 2022 to 2024. Powell-Ryland is more of a pass-rusher and spent five games on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad earlier this season. Let’s examine the two new linebackers more closely as Al Golden looks to turn his group around.<\/p>\n

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) scrambles against the Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Barrett Carter (49) on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Recent Linebacker Additions Should Give Bengals Defense a Boost<\/h2>\n

Brian Asamoah II<\/h3>\n

The Bengals originally added Asamoah to the practice squad on October 30th, and he saw action against the Chicago Bears in Week 9 before being signed to the active roster. He’s a fourth-year player from the University of Oklahoma<\/a> and had his best season as a junior in 2021, where he started 10 of 12 games, recording 90 tackles and two forced fumbles.<\/p>\n

Asamoah also plays on special teams and made his presence felt immediately against the Bears with excellent blocking that paved the way for a Charlie Jones kickoff return touchdown. It’s been a whirlwind for Asamoah over the last year as he hopes to find a home with Cincinnati, and he’ll get an opportunity as the fifth linebacker for now.<\/p>\n

Antwaun Powell-Ryland<\/h3>\n

Powell-Ryland is an intriguing player with good size at 6’3″, 252 pounds, and a strong pedigree<\/a> from Virginia Tech, where he earned first-team all-ACC and Associated Press All-American third-team honors as a redshirt senior with the Hokies. In his final season at VT, Powell-Ryland was unstoppable and had 16 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries, which ranked third in FBS. He also posted a solid Relative Athletic Score (RAS) in the pre-draft process, which speaks to his potential upside.<\/p>\n

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Antwaun Powell-Ryland was drafted in round 6 pick 209 in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.18 #RAS<\/a> out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 168 out of 2029 DE from 1987 to 2025. https:\/\/t.co\/6QuPsKKMNF<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/sNuCOV1YF9<\/a><\/p>\n

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n