As if the loss to the Ravens on Sunday was not bad enough, the Bengals have now learned that they lost two players to season ending injuries during the game.
Starting CB Daxton Hill limped off with a knee injury and did not return. It is believed that he suffered a torn ACL, which will end his season.
Hill was a 1st round pick in 2022, originally as a S. He replaced Jessie Bates as a starter in 2023, but that didn’t quite work out.
The Bengals moved him to CB this past offseason, and had him competing with DJ Turner for the CB2 spot. Hill ended up winning the job, and had been playing pretty well in coverage, up until his injury. Turner will now replace him as the CB2 opposite of Cam Taylor-Britt.
As for Hill, he will focus on rehab and hope to be back for the start of next season. The Bengals will have to make a decision on his 5th year option during the offseason, but the chances now seem slim that it will be picked up. If that turns out to be the case, Hill will be entering a contract year in 2025.
The Bengals also lost OT/G Jaxson Kirkland for the year with a torn biceps.
Kirkland earned his way into a depth position with a good preseason. A brief injury to Amarius Mims forced Cody Ford into the game, and allowed Kirkland to see his first snaps of the year as an extra OL, when the Bengals were in heavy sets. Kirkland was originally signed by the Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2023, and split time between the practice squad and the injured list.
To replace Kirkland, the Bengals have signed G/OT Andrew Stueber off of the Atlanta Falcons practice squad.
Stueber was originally a 7th round pick of the Patriots in 2022. After spending his rookie season on IR, he then spent all of 2023 on New England’s practice squad. This season, he had been on Atlanta’s practice squad, up until being poached by the Bengals.
Going back to the 2022 NFL Draft, I had a 6th round pick on Stueber. You can find my scouting report on him linked HERE. Stueber has G/OT flexibility, which is likely something that attracted the Bengals. His size and strength is a big asset, but limited athleticism does make him a question mark at OT. In any event, he is someone that could be a solid depth piece.
Modified Home Page Image Via: Eli Marshall