Jacob Bayer

Bayer joined the Bengals' practice squad in November 2025, after spending the offseason and training camp with Buffalo ... He signed with the Bills as a college free agent in May 2025, following a collegiate career that included two seasons (2021-22) at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, and two seasons ('23-24) at Arkansas State University ... Earned first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors in 2023, then followed up with second-team recognition in '24.

Bayer joined the Bengals' practice squad in November 2025, after spending the offseason and training camp with Buffalo ... He signed with the Bills as a college free agent in May 2025, following a collegiate career that included two seasons (2021-22) at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, and two seasons ('23-24) at Arkansas State University ... Earned first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors in 2023, then followed up with second-team recognition in '24.

Career transactions: Signed with Buffalo as college free agent on 5-9-25 ... Waived by Bills on 8-26-25 ... Signed to Cincinnati practice squad on 11-3-25 ... Signed to Bengals roster (Reserve/Future) on 1-5-26.

Pro career:

2025—Spent final eight games of season on Cincinnati's practice squad ... Spent offseason and training camp with Buffalo, before being waived by Bills on Aug. 26 ... Was not with NFL team through first nine weeks of season, then signed to Bengals' practice squad on Nov. 3.

College: Spent final two seasons (2023-24) at Arkansas State, after beginning career at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas ('21-22) ... Started 24 games at center while at Arkansas State ... Earned second-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors in 2024, when he started final 12 games after recovering from knee injury suffered in April of that year ... Named first-team All-Sun Belt in 2023 ... Became ninth player in school history to participate in the Senior Bowl ... Started all 22 games at center in two-year career at Lamar, where he helped offense average 174.8 rushing yards per game in 2022.

High school/personal: Hometown is Grandview, Texas ... Attended Grandview High School, where he helped lead team to back-to-back state titles in 2018 and '19 ... As a junior in 2019, earned first-team all-state and first-team all-county honors, and was named District 9 Offensive Lineman of the Year ... Majored in criminology.

NOTE ABOUT NFL EXPERIENCE: Bayer did not earn an accrued year of experience toward NFL free agency in 2025.

Last Updated July 2026