What made the Cincinnati Bengals' 10-game win streak last year more impressive was they did it without their best cornerback.

Chidobe Awuzie played just half the season before tearing his ACL in the team's Week 8 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The embarrassing defeat coupled with the grim image of Awuzie limping off the field made for a bleak outlook for the rest of the season.

The Bengals nearly returned to the Super Bowl without their No. 1 corner, but they'd very much like to have him back for the entirety of the 2023 campaign. With luck, they'll get their wish.

In speaking to reporters at voluntary workouts, Awuzie, six months removed from his ACL tear, gave a positive update on his recovery towards Week 1 in September. 

“I’m pretty much on schedule with everything they have planned for me,” Awuzie said. “I’ve ran, I’ve jumped, I’ve lifted. It’s just a matter of time now. I feel really good. I’m excited where I’m at. I thank God I haven’t really had any plateaus, haven’t really had any setbacks."

Hitting speed-bumps in the recovery process is always a fear, but the Bengals have established quite the reputation for avoiding them. Carson Palmer, Joe Burrow, and Trey Hopkins are just a few examples of players who came back from significant knee injuries in such a quick timespan without any setbacks to speak of. 

Awuzie suffered his ACL tear much earlier than all three of those players did, which gives him an even greater advantage to not only return on time, but be completely 100% for when the action becomes real.

"Hopefully, I’m firing on all cylinders at some point during the summer.”

Music to every fan and coach's ears. 

Awuzie is the right kind of athlete, both physically and mentally, to tackle a long recovery process so effectively. The fact that his specific tear wasn't as detrimental to his knee only increases the likelihood that his confidence will be rewarded by the time August and September arrive.

The Bengals are very much in the market for a rookie cornerback regardless of Awuzie's outlook on rehabbing time. The now seventh-year player is entering a contract year on a team that has done its best to avoid dishing out third contracts to veterans. 

Awuzie could prove to be the exception if he outperforms expectations, but that won't stop the club from selecting a potential replacement early in next week's NFL Draft.

At this rate, the rookie will be behind Awuzie from the jump. There are far worse conundrums for NFL rosters.