Bengals' La'el Collins embracing upcoming competition at right tackle
Right tackle is undoubtedly the biggest variable on the Cincinnati Bengals' roster entering the NFL Draft. The team wants to move Jonah Williams there, and the former first-round pick requested a trade as a response. Williams and former second-round picks Jackson Carman and Cody Ford are the only notable healthy options to take over at […]
Right tackle is undoubtedly the biggest variable on the Cincinnati Bengals' roster entering the NFL Draft. The team wants to move Jonah Williams there, and the former first-round pick requested a trade as a response.
Williams and former second-round picks Jackson Carman and Cody Ford are the only notable healthy options to take over at that spot when the regular season begins. This reality has kept alive the idea of the team drafting a right tackle early.
That all would change if La'el Collins is able to play starting in Week 1.
Collins, who tore his left ACL, MCL, and PCL just before the playoffs in Week 16 last season, spoke to media members for the first time this offseason and was extremely optimistic about his on-going recovery.
"At the end of the day, I feel like if I had to play today, I could put a brace on it and I could go to work," Collins said of his injury. "I know my knee is locked in and stable."
The idea of Collins returning just eight months after major surgery and playing at 100% seemed laughable just a month ago. It still shouldn't be considered likely with so much time to go before pads come on, but Collins is on a positive track at the very least.
In his first season in Cincinnati, Collins dealt with a back issue that clearly impacted his play early on. He ended up leveling out closer to his ability towards the later part of the year, right before he went down against the New England Patriots.
Injury problems aside, Collins didn't play nearly well enough to secure a starting spot going forward, and his recovery has opened the door for a needed competition at that spot. The ninth-year veteran is embracing what's ahead.
“We all know that’s a part of the business," Collins said of competing against Williams. "Everybody goes through the business part at some point. All it is is we’re going to be better and have depth. We’re coming and we ain’t stopping.”
It remains to be seen if Williams will actually be around to take part in the battle at right tackle. The Bengals could feasibly trade him during the draft and add a rookie to replace him on the roster, but only for the right price. If all they wanted was a pick and extra cap space, a trade would've likely happened by now. Their flexibility on the matter could increase as the draft progresses.
Collins still has a ways to go before the competition heats up at his spot. If he's able to participate during training camp in a meaningful way, the Bengals' offensive line will be in a much better place.
