Bengals have “strong meeting” with free agent they desperately need and a familiar timeline looks to be in place
Cincinnati hosted a free agency visit Tuesday.
The Cincinnati Bengals hosted a visit and workout for free agent guard Dalton Risner Tuesday.
Per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, both sides will stay in contact but a deal has not been reached “as of now.”
Risner’s visit and workout was originally reported Monday before Cincinnati’s preseason victory over the Washington Commanders. The Bengals started Lucas Patrick at right guard for the game, but pulled him for rookie fifth-round pick Jalen Rivers while the rest of the starting offensive line was still on the field. Head coach Zac Taylor told reporters after the game Patrick got dinged up during the game.
Patrick is just one reason why Risner’s services are needed in Cincinnati. Patrick is ahead of Cody Ford in the RG battle, but Ford is also injured as is Cordell Volson. Rivers would likely get the start if they played tomorrow and Patrick couldn’t suit up.
The position has been in dire need for the entire offseason, and while Risner isn’t a Pro Bowler by any means, his resume is far and away better than anyone else’s on the roster.
The Bengals also hosted tight end Noah Fant for a visit earlier in training camp and he left without a deal originally before signing a handful of days later. This could be the case with Risner as well, but the former second-round pick, unlike Fant, doesn’t have any other reported visits lined up. That will be something to monitor in the coming days.
UPDATE: ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Risner has a visit lined up with the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers could also be in the picture.
This could all come together soon, or not at all. But Cincinnati and Risner will remain in touch regardless.
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