Bengals HC Zac Taylor offers ambiguous update on starting spot for position that remains unsettled entering Week 4
More change could be upon the Bengals’ offensive line.
Zac Taylor and the Cincinnati Bengals are working with an extra day of rest, and therefore, preparation, heading into a “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Denver Broncos. That means players like right guard Dalton Risner, who suffered a calf injury last Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, have another day to rest and get right.
That doesn’t automatically mean that Risner will return as the starter. Taylor would not confirm to reporters during his weekly press conference if Risner will be inserted back in at RG this week.
“We’ll see,” Taylor said. “You know, I think we got some options there, and so we’ll go through the week and see where it ends up at.”
Examining Bengals’ remaining options at right guard
The position has been in flux since the beginning of the offseason when Alex Cappa was released. Cincinnati re-signed Cody Ford and brought in Lucas Patrick as a free agent in March only to sign Risner in August to be another option to start. Ford ended up as the backup swing tackle, while Patrick started in Week 1 with Risner behind him as the first off the bench.
Risner’s role was fulfilled almost immediately when Patrick suffered a calf injury of his own in Week 1. He took over for the next two weeks only to be replaced by Jalen Rivers in Minnesota due to injury.
Rivers, Cincinnati’s fifth-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, could end up staying in the lineup over the more experienced Risner if he’s not healthy enough to start, or a combination of his health and performance.
“I thought he came in as his first real action and held up well versus a good defensive front that offers a lot of looks,” Taylor said of Rivers. “Didn’t see anything that alarmed me or gave cause concern, and that’s what we’ve seen from him, really the whole way. He’s only continued to improve. He’s got a lot of great traits, so I got a lot of confidence in him.”
Bengals injury updates for Dalton Risner, Shemar Stewart, and Cam Taylor-Britt
- RG Dalton Risner “came out out of Sunday’s game “better than expected” with his calf injury according to Zac Taylor.
- DE Shemar Stewart is still working through an ankle injury he suffered in Week 2. Taylor said they will “see through the end of the week” where he’s at and while it would be a “tough time” for him to play, Taylor is not ruling him out yet.
- CB Cam Taylor-Britt, who suffered a hamstring injury last week in practice, will also be worked through the week of practice.
Tabbing three different starters at a single offensive line position in the first four weeks is the opposite of ideal, but Taylor’s lack of conviction entering the week of practice speaks to just how up in the air the decision is right now.
Should Risner practice fully this week, he’s likely to resume starting duties, but Taylor is certainly keeping the door open for the rookie to notch his first-career start.
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