{"id":249064,"date":"2025-09-30T13:30:49","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T17:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=249064"},"modified":"2025-09-30T12:55:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T16:55:34","slug":"the-bengals-offensive-line-is-being-left-out-to-dry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/09\/30\/the-bengals-offensive-line-is-being-left-out-to-dry\/","title":{"rendered":"The Bengals Offensive Line is Being Left Out to Dry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the last two weeks, the Cincinnati Bengals have been steamrolled to the tune of 48-10 by the Minnesota Vikings and 28-3 by the Denver Broncos<\/a>. At no point in either game did it feel like the Bengals had even a fighting chance. The Vikings and Broncos are not among the NFL’s best as it stands, and yet, they looked like 2019 LSU against an FCS team. There are plenty of places to point the finger and assign blame. The coaching is not there, the front office is inept, the quarterback play is a massive drop off<\/a>, the Bengals’ offensive line still stuggles, etc. etc. etc.<\/p>\n

Heading into last offseason, the goal for the team was supposed to be to upgrade the defense and give the Bengals’ offensive line a boost. The guard combo of Cordell Volson<\/a> and Alex Cappa<\/a> was the worst in the NFL. So, the team went out and drafted two guards and signed Dalton Risner<\/a>. Risner was disappointing in his limited action and was benched for one of those rookies.<\/p>\n

This year’s unit is not good, but Zac Taylor and Jake Browning<\/a> are exacerbating the issue. This isn’t to say the Bengals’ offensive line is in the top half of the league; they’re nowhere close. However, they aren’t really being given a chance at this juncture.<\/p>\n

The Bengals Offensive Line is Being Left Out to Dry<\/h2>\n
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Sep 29, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) hands the ball off to Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) during the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Let’s get this out of the way. In its current form, the Bengals offensive line is bad. Is it Groundhog Day? It feels like we’ve been saying this ever since the team decided to lowball its cornerstones and let the likes of Andrew Whitworth<\/a> and Kevin Zeitler<\/a> walk. Are they cursed? Did Whitworth’s family commission those Etsy witches to curse the team? Is it like the Defense Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts in Harry Potter? If only it were so simple.<\/p>\n

No, the Bengals just cannot develop offensive line talent<\/a> anymore. Orlando Brown<\/a> Jr. was a Pro Bowl player at one point and has struggled. Dylan Fairchild<\/a> and Jalen Rivers<\/a> are showing their rookie growing pains. All in all, they look like they will be fine, but as rookies, it’s incredibly difficult to just jump in and succeed. Ted Karras<\/a> has taken a step back. Amarius Mims<\/a>, the player everyone penciled in as the future franchise right tackle, has continuously battled injuries and is not playing to the elite athleticism they were sold on.<\/p>\n

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The Bengals currently have the 28th ranked pass blocking offensive line and 32nd ranked run blocking offensive line, per PFF.<\/p>\n

They also have the 32nd ranked running game by EPA\/rush. https:\/\/t.co\/wcGHQATgMQ<\/a><\/p>\n

— Gridiron Grading (@GridironGrading) September 30, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n