CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Bengals rounded out their 90-man roster Thursday, according to the agent of a player they reportedly signed as a free agent that afternoon.
Rashaun Simonise, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound former standout at the University of Calgary, signed with the Bengals following the supplemental draft, according to his agent, Brian Brundage. No players were selected in Thursday's supplemental draft.
Simonise, 22, was part of the supplemental draft after being ruled academically ineligible for his senior season. He had 1,079 receiving yards on 51 catches last year. While waiting to find out if he’d be eligible for the supplemental draft, Simonise played in five games this spring with the Chicago Eagles, an arena team based in the Champions Indoor Football League. He had 11 catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns there.
During Bengals training camp, which begins in two weeks, Simonise figures to be a natural competitor for Alonzo Russell, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound wideout whom Cincinnati signed as an undrafted free agent in May following the NFL draft. Valued for his height and leaping ability, Russell could be a mismatch in one-on-one situations with cornerbacks deep downfield. The same could be said for Simonise, who reportedly had a 35-inch vertical at his pro day.
With Simonise's addition, the Bengals now have 13 receivers coming to training camp. Beyond A.J. Green, there are questions about how rookie Tyler Boyd, free-agency addition Brandon LaFell, and young wideouts James Wright, Mario Alford and Jake Kumerow -- among others -- will be used this fall. Simonise could add another wrinkle there, depending upon how he performs later this month and next.
