The Cincinnati Bengals bolstered their offensive line with first-round pick center Billy Price. Reports have come out that he is ahead of schedule in rehab.
The Cincinnati Bengals have made it a point to address the massive issue which is the offensive line this offseason. Firing offensive line coach Paul Alexander and bringing in coach Frank Pollack was a major headline in the Bengals offseason. Cincinnati also traded for Buffalo Bills left tackle Cordy Glenn to address their most significant need of the offseason. Drafting center Billy Price in the first-round should be another significant upgrade in 2018.
The last four seasons, the Bengals have deployed center Russell Bodine at the center position. Bodine left fans anxious for the team to find someone better to fill the center of the line and after declining the Bengals offer this offseason, Bodine left for the Buffalo Bills. The situation could not have turned out better as the Bengals then spent their first-round pick that was swapped with the Bills in their trade for Glenn and spent it on Ohio State center Billy Price.
Price proved a versatile piece along the Ohio State offensive line playing in four seasons, three at left guard and his final season at center. He suffered a pectoral tear at the 2018 NFL combine which has left him out of some drills during minicamps and OTA workouts. The Ohio State product was the strongest center in this year’s draft and arguably the most pro ready.
While the minicamps are over and the team will not hit the field again till July 26 when training camp begins, Price will stay in Cincinnati and finish out his rehab. It seems that Price is ahead of schedule by about a month and was doing the workout that caused his injury on Thursday, the last day of mandatory minicamp. Price bench pressed 315 pounds under the supervision of rehab chief Nick Cosgray.
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He will be cleared for all of the team drills come training camp and will get his first opportunity to take on the Bengals defensive line. Price should be a significant upgrade over the former Russell Bodine even if he doesn’t become a star during his rookie season. Working under Frank Pollack, we could see a much improved offensive line as a whole if everyone stays healthy. Here’s to not watching quarterback Andy Dalton run for his life every snap.