Bengals 1st-round pick Jonah Williams likely lost for season
By Bryan Perez
Bengals first-round pick Jonah Williams underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, the team announced Tuesday
The Cincinnati Bengals selected former Alabama left tackle Jonah Williams in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft with the expectation he’d become the kind of blindside protector the team’s been missing for nearly all of QB Andy Dalton’s tenure under center.
Unfortunately, we may not know if Williams is that guy until the 2020 season.
The Bengals announced Tuesday that Williams underwent shoulder surgery and is likely lost for all of 2019.
“We look forward to Jonah being a major contributor in the future, and know that he won’t let this injury deter him from still being an important part of this team,” Bengals coach Zach Taylor said via the team’s official website. “We’re confident in our offensive line personnel as we head into training camp, and we believe they can do their part in helping this team achieve its goals.”
Williams was widely considered the most pro-ready offensive lineman in the 2019 draft, even if his athletic ability was questioned. Some draft analysts projected Williams as a potential All-Pro interior lineman but his collegiate resume warranted a shot at tackle initially in his career.
Bad blow for the #Bengals: Highly touted first-round rookie OL Jonah Williams had left shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. He’ll likely miss the 2019 season, per the team, but should make a full recovery.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 25, 2019
The Bengals wasted little time naming him their starting right tackle shortly after he was drafted. This injury news is a big blow to a team that’s already considered one of the weaker clubs in the NFL.
Cincinnati has the third-longest odds at winning the Super Bowl at 150:1, via Vegas Insider.
With Williams likely out for the year, the Bengals will field a starting offensive line that consists of Cordy Glenn, John Jerry, Billy Price, John Miller and Bobby Hart.