CINCINNATI -- Mike Nugent won the Bengals' kicking job Saturday after proving he had recovered from a groin injury that limited him early in training camp.
Bengals season preview
Get fearless forecasts
from experts, pivotal games, players on the hot seat, fantasy analysis and
more with NFL.com's team-by-team season previews. **More ...**
The Bengals waived kicker Dave Rayner, who had a head start in the competition after Nugent was hurt. Nugent finished strong, going 3 of 4 on field-goal attempts, including two from beyond 50 yards.
Nugent replaces Shayne Graham, who left as a free agent after seven seasons in Cincinnati.
The Bengals also released wide receiver Matt Jones, who is trying to revive his NFL career. Jones didn't play last season after the Jacksonville Jaguars released him because of his off-the-field issues. Jones signed a one-year, $700,000 deal with the Bengals in February.
Jones was Jacksonville's first-round draft pick in 2005. He was arrested and charged with cocaine possession in 2008, drawing a three-game suspension from the NFL. The Jaguars waived him after he was jailed for violating his plea agreement.
Jones caught just four passes for Cincinnati during the preseason.
As expected, cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones made the team as a third cornerback and punt returner. Jones also is trying to revive his career after spending last season out of football.
The Bengals made 22 moves to reach the 53-man roster limit Saturday. The defending AFC North champions open the season Sept. 12 at New England.
Among those waived were tight end Chase Coffman, a 2009 third-round draft pick who became one of the main subjects in HBO's "Hard Knocks" series with the Bengals last summer. Coffman was used as a receiver at Missouri and struggled to learn how to block.
Two 2010 draft picks were waived: fifth-round guard Otis Hudson and sixth-round wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press