There was some speculation as to why OT Hakeem Adeniji has been absent from OTA’s on Monday. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has since confirmed that Adeniji had suffered a torn pectoral muscle and underwent surgery to repair the damage.
Adeniji was inline to compete for one of the depth spots along the OL, and his versatility was an asset for the Bengals.
As a 6th round rookie in 2020, he showed promise, especially when he filled in for Jonah Williams at LT. The results took a dip when he was asked to shift over to the right side, but nevertheless, he played well for a rookie 6th round pick.
The recovery period for a torn pectoral muscle can be anywhere from 6 months to 1 year, so there is a good chance that he will miss the 2021 season. If he does make it back, it will not be until the later stages of the year.
Adeniji’s injury puts Fred Johnson in the driver’s seat to be the swing tackle and first off the bench. As well, it opens things up for 4th round rookie D’Ante Smith to potentially earn some extra reps. The injury could also allow 2nd round rookie Jackson Carman to see more time at OT this offseason, than what was originally anticipated.
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