The Bengals had Cordell Volson battling for a roster spot, but the contract-year guard has bigger concerns now. Volson is set to miss the season, Zac Taylor said (via ESPN.com’s Ben Baby).
A shoulder injury that will require surgery will move Volson out of the picture for the 2025 Bengals. The team added Dylan Fairchild in Round 3 and will plug him in as a starting guard, with Cody Ford in the lead for the other gig. Cincy, though, is still in on Dalton Risner in free agency.
Although Volson entered camp on the Bengals’ roster bubble, Baby notes he had shown improvement during preseason workouts. The Bengals having Ford and free agency addition Lucas Patrick at guard but also considering Risner points to dissatisfaction with where the team’s right guard competition stands. Risner is also on the Seahawks and Steelers’ radars.
A 48-game starter with the Bengals, Volson had been demoted late last season. After that depth chart drop, the North Dakota State alum observed the Patrick and Fairchild moves. While a place on the Bengals’ roster bubble awaited, Volson would have at least represented experienced depth on a rookie contract — on a pay cut at that.
This will mark a tough end to Volson’s rookie contract. The former fourth-rounder’s momentum stalling to this degree would point to a one-year free agency deal in 2026. As for the Bengals, they have Ford and Patrick as options at RG. Risner also has experience as a late arrival-turned-starter. The former Broncos second-rounder, who has become known for dissatisfying free agency journeys, caught on in September 2023 with the Vikings and moved into the team’s starting lineup weeks later. That ascent could be notable for the Bengals, who still have one question to answer along their O-line.