Willis signed with the Bengals as a UDFA in 2019 and bounced between the active roster and the practice squad. He finished his rookie season with nine receptions for 82 yards and was waived in the summer of 2020. The Browns claimed Willis but he failed his physical and ultimately wound up on the Jacksonville practice squad. Willis is nothing more than a camp body for the receiver-rich Broncos.

23-year-old Willis yo-yoed on and off the 53-man roster as an UDFA last year. With the Bengals' receiver corps much deeper this season, Willis was always facing long odds, but it bodes poorly for his NFL future that he is being cut loose at this stage of the summer. 

Willis spent the season shifting between Cincinnati's practice squad and active roster, and injuries to both A.J. Green and John Ross played a role in his earning a depth role. He'll fight to carve out a larger workload in 2020.

With Willis inactive and A.J. Green (ankle) still out, the bulk of the Bengals' passing game likely will be targeted toward Tyler Boyd, John Ross and Alex Erickson in a plus matchup against the Dolphins.