Cincinnati Bengals: Rookies had an impressive game vs. Steelers

Jackson Carman may have earned himself a starting role at right guard

Cincinnati selected the offensive line prospect, Jackson Carman, out of Clemson in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Carman played tackle throughout his college career, but the Bengals saw him as a guard due to his frame and short arms.

Carman seemed to struggle with his transition to guard in the offseason. After two weeks, he had not seen the field early in the NFL season and rumors swirled that Carman was progressing and was beginning to pick up speed in his development within the last handful of weeks.

Carman was given the chance to start versus the Steelers with the starting right guard Xavier Su’a-Filo missing the game with an injury. He turned in a solid performance in Week 3 of action, allowing zero pressures on 19 pass-blocking snaps.

This was certainly needed after Burrow was under heavy duress in the first two games of the year. Carman did not play perfectly, but he did enough to possibly earn the starting right guard spot. Su’a-Filo could have been the weakest link on the offensive line through two weeks of play, so Carman’s emergence is a welcomed sight.

Part of the reason Carman seemed to play well was definitely due to Cincinnati’s offensive game plan. Burrow got the ball out at about 2.42 seconds on each drop back. Since Cincinnati was passing the ball so fast, there was little opportunity for the Steelers to generate any type of pressure.

Most second-rounders in the NFL are immediate impacts, but Carman was not that through two weeks. After Sunday’s game, Carman could be Cincinnati’s new starting right guard.

The second-rounder should be able to progressively improve as the season rolls along and his starting role could help the Bengals’ offensive line in the long haul.