The rebuilding Cincinnati Bengals lost a key piece in their defensive rotation for the upcoming season. Newly-acquired cornerback Trae Waynes won't be seeing action for his new team as he will take time to recover from surgery.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport disclosed the development from the Bengals cornerback on Twitter:

Waynes was a highly-touted prospect from Michigan State University where he concluded a three-year tenure with the team. The Minnesota Vikings selected him with the 11th pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Waynes was the first cornerback to come off the boards and also became the Minnesota Vikings' highest-drafted cornerback in franchise history.

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Head coach Mike Zimmer named Waynes as the fourth cornerback on the depth chart to begin the regular season, behind Xavier Rhodes, Terence Newman, and Captain Munnerlyn. He became CB1 for the team after Rhodes sustained an injury during the 2016 season. Waynes never looked back and remained a primary player until the 2019 season.

After five years in Minnesota, he amassed a total of 215 total tackles, 7 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. During the offseason, he moved on and chose to help the cause of a cellar-dwelling Bengals' side. On March 27, 2020, Waynes signed a three-year, $42 million contract to play in Cincinnati.

The new Bengals cornerback was expected to be a defensive ace similar to his role back in Minnesota prior to his sustained injury. With his absence, third-year player Darius Phillips is now expected to slot in the starting cornerback position.

In the upcoming season, the Bengals will have to rely on their offensive players to compensate for a depleted defensive rotation for the time being. The Joe Burrow-led team will ultimately attempt to make it back to the playoff picture after a four-year absence.