Head coach Zac Taylor likes what he sees from three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase after practices on Sunday and Monday as the Bengals put the finishing touches on their 53-man roster and 16-man practice squad.

"It's been good just to have our full complement of weapons out there," Taylor said on Tuesday's Zoom with Cincinnati media. "I think it gives you the visual of what it's going to look and feel like for us. It's been good to get him back in the mix the last couple of days. He's looked great. Same Ja'Marr I'm used to. The plan will be to continue to practice with him."

But even before the Bengals practice at 2 p.m. Wednesday, the roster they just cut to the mandatory 53 on Tuesday may look different at a couple of positions. With the Bengals putting defensive end Myles Murphy (knee) on four-week injured reserve-recall and rookie defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson (leg) not practicing yet but on the roster, the Bengals have four edge players and five healthy tackles of their ten defensive linemen.

Murphy has to sit out at least four weeks, but Taylor seemed hopeful Jackson, a third-rounder, would be back sooner.

"The timeline is a little more favorable there," Taylor said.

Taylor also said that undrafted rookie Ryan Rehkow is his Opening Day punter and that they won't go into the waiver wire looking to replace him.

The Bengals can start to form their practice squad after 12 p.m. Wednesday, and they'll sign several of the players cut Tuesday if they clear waivers. They can also claim players Wednesday.

When they cut quarterback Logan Woodside after he threw a team-leading 58 passes in the preseason, it signaled that Joe Burrow backup Jake Browning (rib) is healthy after missing the last two preseason games.

"We feel good about Joe, and Jake, now, I think will start to progress back to work this week," Taylor said. "We'll limit him early on to not overdo it. Things look encouraging with Jake. Feel good about that number two spot."

Taylor said first-round pick Amarius Mims, battling with Trent Brown for the starting right tackle job until he strained his shoulder 17 days ago, won't work Wednesday and Thursday. They'll see if he can go when they return on Labor Day Monday after a three-day break.

A dozen of Taylor's rookies made the roster, including all 10 draft picks, undrafted linebacker Maema Njongmeta and Rehkow, picked up in July after he was cut by the Chiefs. Also making the roster is a class of six second-year players headlined by wide receivers Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones.

"I think the depth of rookies and second-year guys is really good for us, from top to bottom. Guys we drafted, guys we brought in undrafted," Taylor said. "I think that there's a lot of talent there. There's a lot of depth that's going to help us now and in the future. I feel really encouraged with the direction.

"There's none off the top of my head that are discouraging right now. I'll use and Andrei and Chuck (Jones) as examples at receiver. Two guys that you just see such a big difference year one to year two, where they're not just processing, they're playing fast. Because they know the system now."

It's probably going to change Wednesday and maybe even next week, but the current average age of the roster is even younger than it was last year at 25.8 years old. Elias had them at 25.95 last year, third youngest in the league.

The safety position, abnormally heavy with five players, capsulizes the mix of core veterans and youth for which the Bengals strive. Look at the three backups behind starters Vonn Bell and Geno Stone: a rookie in seventh-rounder Daijahn Anthony, a second-year man in Jordan Battle and a third-year player in Tycen Anderson.

"There's a mixture of youth that we feel like is coming on," Taylor said. "Special teams value as well. Just guys that all have traits and values for our team right now that we think can help us win. It was important to keep all five of these guys."