Ouch! Bengals lose another first-round draft pick to injury
Another year, another first-round draft pick that is down and out for the lowly Cincinnati Bengals.
Already picked to finish at the bottom of the AFC North, the Bengals didn’t help their cause for escaping the basement Tuesday when they announced that first-rounder Jonah Williams, the No. 11 overall selection out of Alabama, will miss the 2019 season after having surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Williams was injured during organized team activities, but the Bengals said he merely was “dinged,” although they didn’t let the player speak to reporters about his health issues.
Shoulder Surgery likely Sidelines Jonah Williams for Season
Read more ?: https://t.co/PTeBANqlJR pic.twitter.com/bOTVsRaQsD
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) June 25, 2019
Williams’ injury continues the run of bad luck for the Bengals and their top draft picks. In 2018, center Billy Price dealt with foot injury that caused him to miss weeks 3-8. In 2017, speedy wide receiver John Ross was limited to 17 snaps over three games because of injuries. William Jackson, the Bengals’ first-rounder in 2016, tore a pectoral muscle in camp and missed the season. In 2015, the Bengals took tackle Cedric Ogbuehi in the first round even though he was coming off an ACL tear. Ogbuehi didn’t get on to the field until December of his rookie year.
With Williams out, the Bengals will have to look elsewhere for players to help them improve on last year’s 6-10 record.
The Pittsburgh Steelers play the Bengals on Sept. 30 at Heinz Field and Nov. 24 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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