With a new and improved roster in place for the Cincinnati Bengals heading into the 2021 NFL season, they're hoping to bounce back huge and elevate to playoff status. Joe Burrow is expected to be back at full strength after his rookie season was cut short due to a knee injury that sidelined for a big portion of the year.
This season, though, the Bengals will look for a better outcome and hope to see Burrow expand his game and lead them to a complete turnaround from last year. After drafting Ja'Marr Chase and Jackson Carman and signing Trey Hendrickson and Chidobe Awuzie in free agency, the Bengals are looking to make some noise in a highly competitive AFC next season.
Having said all this, let's take a look at two Bengals first-stringers who are in danger of losing their starting jobs ahead of the 2021 NFL season.
Trae Waynes
Back from injury but still not quite performing at 100%, Trae Waynes may wind up losing his starting spot to Mike Hilton, who the Bengals just signed to a four-year, $24 million contract this offseason. If the Bengals are paying that kind of money for a left cornerback, then it's widely expected that he'll be seeing a ton of playing time.
This is especially true with Hilton coming off a productive season with the Steelers in which he had 51 tackles, three sacks, and three interceptions. This level of production could provide Cincinnati with a huge boost in the secondary and give them a solid cornerback tandem of with Hilton and Chidobe Awuzie. After all, the Bengals wouldn't pay this kind of money for Hilton if he was just expected to be a second-stringer all year long. With all this said, Trae Waynes may be in danger of losing his starting job ahead of the 2021 NFL season.
Michael Jordan
With the Bengals selecting Jackson Carman, this could turn out to be a much-needed change on their offensive line, especially after Joe Burrow endured a season-ending knee injury last season. Carman could be the perfect fit who will be able to provide Burrow with much-needed protection all year long and allow him to last longer in the pocket.
Nothing is final as of yet, but Carman will definitely be giving Jordan a run for his money with the possibility of taking the starting right guard job in 2021. With Carman potentially being a long-term solution on the offensive line, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him starting soon.
On the flip side, Jordan could still hold his spot and make a strong enough impression on the coaching staff that will sway them the other way and allow him to keep his job. The guard has done well in his transition from left to right guard so far, so perhaps this will be enough to win the starting gig.
Carman was a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of a powerhouse in Clemson, but he still has to earn the job. Xavier Su'a-Filo is also battling for the starting right guard spot.
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