Bengals' Shaka Heyward: Signs contract with Cincinnati
Rotowire
The Bengals signed Heyward to a one-year contract Monday.
Heyward spent time on injured reserve in 2025 due to a lower-leg injury but was able to play in the final four games of the regular season. He mostly contributed on special teams and finished with 16 tackles (four solo) across 12 games.
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Bengals' Shaka Heyward: Activated from IR, playing Week 15
Rotowire
The Bengals activated Heyward (lower leg) from injured reserve Friday, and he does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Heyward had his 21-day practice window open Wednesday and was a full participant in all three practices during Week 15 prep, which was enough for the Bengals to activate him from IR ahead of Sunday's game. Heyward has mostly served on special teams and has logged 10 takcles (four solo) through eight regular-season games.
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Bengals' Shaka Heyward: Not playing Sunday
Rotowire
Heyward (lower leg) has been ruled out for Cincinnati's matchup versus the Bills on Sunday.
Heyward was designated to return from injured reserve, but the team will wait at least one more week before officially activating him. Sunday's game will mark the 25-year-old's fifth consecutive absence, but he'll aim to be good to go for the Week 15 matchup versus Baltimore.
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Bengals' Shaka Heyward: Sidelined for weeks
Rotowire
Heyward suffered a hairline fracture to his fibula during Sunday's 39-38 loss to the Jets, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Heyward has played 137 total snaps (130 on special teams, seven on defense) over the Bengals' first eight games this season, recording 10 total tackles. Now that he's expected to be sidelined for approximately four weeks, Cincinnati's special-teams unit will likely feel his absence.
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Bengals' Shaka Heyward: Exits with leg injury
Rotowire
Heyward (lower leg) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Jets.
Heyward exited the game with a left fibula injury. The 25-year-old linebacker is primarily a special teams player, logging 127 special teams snaps so far this season. His absence will create a void in the unit.
