Bengals cut team captain Germaine Pratt, leaving fans stunned and the locker room facing a new era (Credit: The Canadian Press)
In one of the most surprising roster decisions of the offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals cut team captain Germaine Pratt, sending shockwaves through Cincinnati’s fanbase and locker room. The veteran linebacker, who has been a defensive pillar since entering the league in 2019, will not return for what would have been his seventh season with the team. This news came into effect just after the Green Bay Packers released CB Jaire Alexander, due to a disagreement over payment.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero broke the news that the Bengals will release Germaine Pratt, despite him being under contract through the 2025 season. Pratt had signed a three-year, $20 million deal in 2023 and was set to earn $5.25 million next season. By cutting him, the Bengals incur a $2.3 million dead cap hit and receive no trade compensation, despite a request from Pratt earlier this year to be moved.
A Career of Consistency and Leadership, Since being drafted 72nd overall in the 3rd round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Pratt has been the epitome of durability and production. He started almost every game he was eligible for the last 4 years and had back-to-back 100+ tackle seasons. His 2024 season was a career high with 143 total tackles (top 10 in the league), 2 forced fumbles, 2 recoveries, 6 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions.
Bengals cut team captain Germaine Pratt, and with him, they lose a leader on and off the field.
Cincinnati’s defense was 7th in points allowed and 8th in total yardage last season. However, inconsistency plagued the unit, as it gave up 30+ points to big offenses like the Ravens, Eagles, and Chargers. Stats looked good overall, but the Bengals were one of the most vulnerable defenses on a per-drive basis. Pratt’s leadership and ability to command the field were a stabilizing force in those struggles—a void that won’t be easy to fill.
A Legacy of Big Moments Germaine Pratt’s time in Cincinnati was about more than stats, it was about big plays. None bigger than the game-winning interception in the 2021 Wild Card game against the Raiders that sealed the Cincinnati Bengals’ first playoff win in 31 years. That one play cemented his place in franchise history.
Now, as the Bengals cut team captain Germaine Pratt, fans are left to reflect on a career built on heart, hustle, and big game heroics.
Pratt, a former 1st team All-ACC from NC State, enters free agency for the first time since being drafted. At 29, he still has plenty of football left and will get strong interest from teams looking for an experienced, high-IQ linebacker.
As for the Bengals, cutting their team captain means a potential shift in strategy or a gamble they may soon regret. Either way, the Bengals cut team captain Germaine Pratt, and with that, an era is over in Cincinnati.
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