Bengals left tackle Jonah Williams is currently considered week-to-week due to a dislocated left kneecap, as confirmed by coach Zac Taylor on Monday.
Williams sustained the injury during the second quarter of the team’s 24-17 triumph over the Baltimore Ravens in an AFC wild-card playoff match. Initially marked as questionable, he was subsequently ruled out and missed the entirety of the second half.
Regarding Williams’ availability for the upcoming divisional playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, Taylor stated, “Hard to tell.”
The Bengals concluded their victory over their AFC North rivals with three backup linemen filling starting roles. Jackson Carman, the team’s second-round pick in 2021, was active for only the fourth time this season and stepped in at left tackle during Sunday’s game.
“I thought he performed admirably, especially given the circumstances,” Taylor remarked. “He prepares for both sides during the week and has seen significant practice time at guard this season.
Considering the opportunity he was given against a formidable defensive line, I thought he handled it exceptionally well.”
In place of La’el Collins, who is on injured reserve due to a torn ACL in his left knee, Hakeem Adeniji made his second official start at right tackle.
Jonah Williams (Photo: NFL)
Max Scharping started at right guard against Baltimore following Alex Cappa’s left ankle injury in Week 18.
After Cincinnati’s playoff victory, Cappa was observed wearing a protective boot on his left ankle and using a push scooter in the locker room. Taylor indicated Cappa’s status for the Bills playoff game was week-to-week but noted signs of improvement.
“I saw him working on curling a towel with his toes, and he looked good,” Taylor mentioned. “It seemed like progress to me. That was encouraging news for everyone.”
Despite surrendering four sacks in the playoff win against the Ravens, the Bengals’ offensive line performance has generally been solid.
During their eight-game win streak from Week 9 to the end of the regular season, Cincinnati never allowed more than two sacks in a game. Taylor emphasized that the sacks against Baltimore were due to various factors and do not reflect the overall performance of the offensive line.
“They were all different situations,” Taylor explained. “But we have confidence in our line. They provided us with enough to secure the win in that game, and we’ll continue to work on improvements.”
