Dohnte Meyers has been earning praise from Cincinnati Bengals coaches this training camp, but the former Canadian Football League standout received what he considered the ultimate compliment after the team’s preseason opener.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, when asked which players stood out in the 16-14 win over Detroit on Thursday, Aug. 13, started by pointing out Meyers.
Meyers led the team with 29 yards receiving on three catches, building on his strong showing in training camp so far, and he’s done well enough to be noticed by Burrow — even though he was largely unknown coming into it.
“(Meyers) looked really good,” Burrow said. “He’s looked good all camp.”
Meyers said being mentioned by a leader and hardworker like Burrow “means everything.”
Teammates and coaches have shared how Meyers, a 5-foot-11, 186-pound example of perseverance, has earned that respect. His backstory is one that would have just about anyone rooting for him.
Coming out of Norcross High School, near Atlanta, Meyers was an unrated college recruit who only had a handful of Division III offers. He landed an academic scholarship to play at FCS school Presbyterian College in South Carolina, then went on to play two seasons at Division II Delta State (Miss.) before going undrafted and unsigned as a free agent in 2023.
Meyers didn’t give up hope and kept training while driving for DoorDash for income until finally in 2024 an opportunity came through a CFL tryout with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He broke his wrist in the first preseason game, joined the practice squad when healthy and earned a promotion to the roster Week 10, but finally blossomed in 2025.
That led to a futures/reserves contract with the Bengals in January, and now he’s getting a chance to fulfill his dream.
“It’s just all been a blessing,” Meyers said. “I’m just so fortunate, God’s blessing me to be here, and I’m just still soaking. To be out there in front of the fans, to get the win, it just means everything. So I’m just soaking it all in. It’s been an amazing experience.”
Meyers is so committed to making the most of his opportunity that when Burrow texted him the week before camp to see if he was in town and able to catch some passes, Meyers told him he could be; then drove overnight to get there.
Burrow said Meyers’ love of football is the first thing that stands out about him, especially knowing now the effort Meyers made just to make a throwing session all the way from Atlanta.
“That’s the kind of guy he is,” Burrow said. “He’s had a great camp. He’s quick, shifty, understands what we’re trying to do. He’s played a lot in the CFL. He comes over here and hasn’t played a lot in the NFL, but he’s got a lot of reps under his belt. He’s a guy that we’ve seen a lot out of.”
Meyers said he left home around midnight and arrived in Cincinnati around 7 a.m. the next morning.
He worked out with Burrow, rookie Colbie Young and others, then took a nap and drove back home with his brother.
“I feel like (it was important) to let him know I’m committed, you know, whatever it takes,” Meyers said. “Whether I gotta fly, whether I gotta drive, whatever. I said if he wants to throw, I’m ready to work.”
The hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. It’s shown up in his play on the practice fields and again in his first NFL action. On Thursday, there was a five-minute span where he had an 11-yard punt return, a 13-yard run and a 13-yard reception.
Meyers said he will do whatever the Bengals ask of him.
That’s no surprise.
“He is a hard worker, and I mean, I love that he gives the effort that he does, the work he puts in on, like off time, just to be out there and be great,” Young said. “And for him to be able to showcase it was real testimony to his effort.”