Bengals lose a core special teams ace to the Broncos.
The Cincinnati Bengals have taken an aggressive approach to fixing a roster that underperformed throughout the 2025 season. Cincinnati finished 6-11 and missed the playoffs for a third straight year, with defensive struggles playing a central role. The unit ranked 30th in the NFL and consistently gave up explosive plays and failed to close out games, even in contests where the offense produced at a high level.
Cincinnati’s special team also struggled to produce consistently. As a result, the Bengals are revamping both units by letting go of some key pieces while bringing in new additions during the offseason. Cincinnati’s latest departure was reported on Thursday after the Denver Broncos have agreed to sign safety Tycen Anderson to a one-year deal, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The move adds depth to Denver’s secondary while removing a key special teams contributor from the Bengals’ roster.
Anderson, a fifth-round pick (No. 166 overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft, spent four seasons with the Bengals. He played in every game over the past two seasons, logging 300+ special teams snaps in each year and establishing himself as one of the unit’s most reliable players.
Across his career in Cincinnati, Anderson appeared in 41 games and recorded 42 total tackles with one pass deflection. While those numbers reflect limited defensive usage, his value came in coverage units, where he led the team in special teams tackles in consecutive seasons (eight in 2023, 11 in 2024).
Tylen Anderson’s Bengals Career and What His Exit Means
Anderson’s career in Cincinnati was shaped by early adversity. He missed his entire rookie season in 2022 due to a hamstring injury, then saw his 2023 campaign cut short after seven games with a knee injury.
He returned in 2024 and played all 17 games, reestablishing himself as a core special teams piece. His resilience earned him the Ed Block Courage Award from the Bengals organization, which recognized his recovery and work ethic.
By 2025, Anderson expanded his role slightly, finishing with 23 tackles while continuing to anchor special teams units. Despite limited defensive snaps, just 64 in his career, he remained a trusted contributor in a clearly defined role.
His exit leaves Cincinnati thin in special teams depth and removes one of its most consistent coverage players.
Cincinnati has already moved to address its safety room in free agency. The team added former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook, a player who logged 858 defensive snaps (83%) in 2025 and served as a primary free safety.
However, Cook’s arrival is targeted more toward reinforcing the defensive unit rather than replacing Anderson’s special teams production directly, which means Cincinnati will need to find a viable replacement via the draft or by bringing in another veteran player.