Cincinnati Bengals rookie Cordell Volson took first-team snaps at left guard for a second-straight practice on Monday and appears well-positioned to vie for the starting job.
Jackson Carman’s disappointing performance against the Cardinals caused his stock to drop dramatically, and Carman is also reportedly dealing with an elbow injury.
Carman returned to the field on Monday after missing Sunday’s practice, yet the Bengals noticeably played Volson, rather than Carman, in first-team reps.
Could Volson steal the job away from Carman this preseason?
In 11 on 11 team drills, Cordell Volson took the first team reps at left guard Jackson Carman is in with the second team.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) August 15, 2022
Volson put together a solid preseason debut against the Cardinals and has been making waves in training camp so far. He also carries a versatile skillset having played both guard and tackle at NDSU, giving him an edge if one of the Bengals’ starting O-lineman goes down.
Cordell Volson could surprisingly win starting LG position on the Bengals
The fourth-round pick still could use time to develop in the Bengals’ offensive scheme, though at the very least he could serve as a viable backup in 2022.
Veteran La’el Collins was spotted coaching Volson from the sidelines, and head coach Zac Taylor had good things to say about the rookie offensive lineman this summer.
"“He does a good job anchoring in pass protection. When he locks up on somebody, he’s a strong guy, he’s got great grip and they have a tough time getting around him. It’s a good competition, both guys have shown really well and we’re just looking for the overall consistency for someone to grab ahold of that job and move on with it.”"
Despite Carman’s pitiful first preseason performance, he’s likely the frontrunner for the starting left guard job as long as he stays healthy.
Volson can nonetheless provide valuable versatility to the Bengals’ offensive line and get crucial reps throughout the 2022 season.