One of the quiet — but bigger — problems facing the Cincinnati Bengals offensive line this offseason is the center position.
And unlike the majority of the other spots, it’s a problem due to injury, not performance.
Center Trey Hopkins tore his ACL in the team’s season-ending loss to Baltimore in Week 17, a devastating setback for player and unit both given the timing.
And yet according to the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Tyler Dragon (via Lindsay Patterson), Hopkins is expected to be ready for training camp.
It would be a stunning turnaround for Hopkins given the timing of the injury. Knee issues certainly aren’t what they once were, but a Week 17 injury made it easy to write off Hopkins until perhaps the season’s midway point.
And maybe the Bengals will treat it that way this offseason anyway, opting to add a center in free agency or the draft as insurance. But Hopkins has been an amazing undrafted story turned into quality starter once finally given the chance and the sooner he’s back, the better for Joe Burrow.
According to a source via @TheTylerDragon – Trey Hopkins should be ready for camp. #BBP
— Lindsay Patterson (@LndsPatterson) February 26, 2021
