Zac Taylor's surprise reveal following Bengals' loss to Ravens helps explain recent roster move
It wasn't just Dax Hill who suffered a cruel fate Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. The Cincinnati Bengals also lost backup guard Jaxson Kirkland. Head coach Zac Taylor told reporters Monday afternoon that Kirkland tore his bicep and will miss the rest of the season. Kirkland was officially on the field for seven snaps during […]
It wasn't just Dax Hill who suffered a cruel fate Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. The Cincinnati Bengals also lost backup guard Jaxson Kirkland.
Head coach Zac Taylor told reporters Monday afternoon that Kirkland tore his bicep and will miss the rest of the season.
Kirkland was officially on the field for seven snaps during Sunday's game. Taylor said the injury occurred in the fourth quarter. Kirkland was on for two extra point attempts during the quarter.
Cincinnati signed Kirkland as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Many pundits pegged Kirkland to be drafted in the late rounds, so landing him after the draft was considered a steal. He suffered a season-ending injury prior to his rookie season, but came back healthy for 2024 and earned a roster spot as the eighth lineman.
We also know what move the Bengals are making to compensate for Kirkland's injury.
Bengals signing Andrew Stueber now makes a lot more sense
A season-ending injury for Kirkland would've brought the Bengals' offensive line down to just seven players. Prior to Taylor's announcement, a report surfaced detailing the Bengals signing offensive lineman Andrew Stueber to the 53-man roster.
Stueber is being signed off the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad to make up for the loss of Kirkland, not just the roster spot that would've been opened up with Hill going to IR.
Stueber will come in this week and figures to be active immediately, while Kirland now looks forward to making the roster again in 2025.
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Cincinnati had to make a sudden change against Baltimore.
