Life just came abruptly fast at a Bengals rookie following big announcements from head coach Zac Taylor
Two rookies are now blocking for Joe Burrow in practice.
The state of the right guard position for the Cincinnati Bengals is in a bit of disarray.
Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed penciled-in starter Lucas Patrick is working through a minor injury and will be day-to-day, which is also Cody Ford’s classification as well. Cordell Volson is also set to have shoulder surgery that will likely take him out for the entire season.
Dalton Risner isn’t here to save the day, at least not yet after reports of him set to visit the Seattle Seahawks following his workout in Cincinnati.
So much injury chaos has left a rookie all by himself to hold down the position as the final week of the preseason ensues.
Jalen Rivers becomes next man up at right guard
The Bengals’ first practice following their preseason Week 2 victory featured Jalen Rivers, the team’s fifth-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, repping with the starters between center Ted Karras and right tackle Amarius Mims.
Rivers played exclusively left tackle and left guard during his collegiate career at Miami. He began taking reps at RG earlier in training camp after Week 1 of the preseason when Ford moved back to practicing behind the starting tackles, but his exposure was with the second-string line.
Monday night saw Rivers get subbed in for Patrick while the rest of the starters were still in the game. Patrick’s injury was the main cause, but the veteran has also underwhelmed as a starter this past month and Rivers going in for him was a big development in the ongoing situation at the position.
There was hope the Bengals could sign Risner during his visit, but allowing him to leave the building puts more pressure on those already in the building to step up in the interim.
That’s falling all on Rivers right now after he spent the offseason train at tackle.
Patrick could reclaim his spot when he returns to full health, or Risner could come back into the picture by then. For now, Rivers has the reins and Cincinnati’s starting line has two rookie guards blocking for quarterback Joe Burrow.
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