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Bengals Lineman Rod Taylor Goes Down with Knee Injury

By Jack Lane

STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 23: D.K. Buford #25 of the Mississippi Rebels celebrates with Rod Taylor #73 after he scored a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 23, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 23: D.K. Buford #25 of the Mississippi Rebels celebrates with Rod Taylor #73 after he scored a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 23, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /
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No team makes it through camp without some sort of injury. For the Bengals, rookie Rod Taylor looks to be out for the season with a knee injury.

One of the most unfortunate parts of training camp is seeing players suffer catastrophic injuries before the season even starts. In some cases, that really inhibits a player from displaying their talent and getting a fair crack at making the roster.

This year, that player happened to be Rod Taylor. Taylor was the Bengals’ last pick of the seventh round, along with Logan Woodside and Auden Tate. He played his college football at Ole Miss, where he was an offensive tackle. Taylor was likely going to move to guard for the Bengals, though, since he was not fast enough to handle elite edge rushers in the NFL.

Taylor’s injury seemed to be to his right knee. He went down on one of the first plays of camp, grasping his knee almost immediately. The medical staff carted him off the field, and reporters saw him walking around on crutches. As of now, Taylor’s injury has not been disclosed by the Bengals or their medical staff, although they should know the specific issue within the next few days. In all likelihood, Taylor suffered a ligament tear, but that is speculation on my part and not fact.

Though we don’t know exactly what Taylor did to his knee yet, he does appear to be out for the year. The Bengals have not made an official announcement, but Taylor posted on Instagram that he would not play for the rest of 2018. If that’s the case, the Bengals will place him on IR once they diagnose his injury.

Getting put on IR might be a blessing in disguise for Taylor. Based on how the roster was shaping up, Taylor was not likely to make the final cut. He would have been a strong candidate for the practice squad, but the IR actually pays better than the practice squad. If he can rehab successfully from his injury and learn the scheme while he’s recovering, Taylor might be able to contribute in 2019. Unfortunately, his 2018 season seems over.

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