Bengals start Hakeem Adeniji over second-round rookie Jackson Carman vs. Browns

A day before the Cincinnati Bengals activated him off injured reserve, we hinted the coaching staff might have big plans for offensive lineman Hakeem Adeniji.

And that they did.

Fast forward to Sunday, it was Adeniji, not second-round rookie Jackson Carman, starting at right guard against the Cleveland Browns.

No word on whether Carman continues to battle issues from the back injury he suffered last week, but the injury report didn’t feature him much and the coaching staff had suggested a change could happen.

Adeniji was a developmental pick for the Bengals in the sixth round of the 2020 draft and has experience at tackle or on the inside. He’s now been a favorite of two different line coaches too, so it’s pretty interesting to think about how he might have fit into the equation had a pec injury over the summer not landed him on IR.

Where this leaves Carman might strictly hinge on whether Adeniji can capitalize on his chance.