Bengals release WR/KR Ke'Shawn Williams after muffed punt vs. Steelers

The Cincinnati Bengals released wide receiver and kick returner Ke'Shawn Williams, a league source confirmed, ending his run with the club after a costly gaffe in Sunday's loss to the Steelers.

Williams muffed a punt late in the defeat at Pittsburgh, and Fowler tied the move directly to that miscue on special teams.

The release thins the Bengals' returner rotation as they turn the page to Week 4. Williams had been part of Cincinnati's depth chart at receiver behind the team's established targets, but his value rested as much on special teams as on offense — a role that became vulnerable after the Sunday error.

The move gives the Bengals a roster opening as they manage a wide receiver room already dealing with the loss of Charlie Jones to injured reserve earlier in the season. How Cincinnati fills the returner job — whether from within or via a quick external signing — will be one of the smaller but telling roster questions as the club tries to steady itself after an uneven start.