Ex-Viking Dalton Risner Didn't Have to Wait Long for His Opportunity with Bengals

For the third straight offseason, getting an opportunity was a challenge for former Minnesota Vikings guard Dalton Risner. After spending the past two years in Minnesota, Risner was a free agent again this spring, and after failing to re-sign with the Vikings, he turned his attention to the Cincinnati Bengals.

It took the entire summer for Risner to get his wish, and even after he signed with the Bengals on Aug. 28, he had to do some more waiting as Cincinnati went with Lucas Patrick as the starter at right guard for Sunday’s season opener against the Cleveland Browns.

Fortunately, Risner didn’t have to wait much longer as an injury to Patrick put him into the starting lineup and into the fire as he looked to prove his doubters wrong.

Former Vikings Dalton Risner Has Big Opportunity After Lucas Patrick’s Injury

Risner’s opportunity came in the second quarter of the game against the Browns when Patrick left the game with a calf injury. While the Bengals listed Patrick as doubtful for the rest of the game, it gave Risner the chance to see the field and perhaps take the starting job on the offensive line and run with it.

This would follow a pattern that Risner’s career has fallen into in recent years. A second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2019 NFL Draft, Risner spent four seasons as the starter before hitting free agency for the first time in 2023. After a drawn-out search for a job, he signed with the Vikings in Week 2 before appearing in 15 games and making 11 starts, but he didn’t come back right away, waiting until the following June to re-sign with the Vikings for 2024.

Risner suffered a back injury during training camp and didn’t enter the starting lineup until replacing Ed Ingram at right guard during a Week 11 game against the Tennessee Titans. While he was the starter for the rest of the season, the Vikings went in a different direction, signing Will Fries in free agency and drafting Donovan Jackson in the first round of April’s draft.

Those decisions caused Risner to campaign to join the Bengals, and it may have paid off if Patrick suffered a long-term injury. While you could pin the blame on Risner for not signing sooner, he could take the starting role and run with it if Patrick misses extended time.

For a player who has had issues finding opportunities, he finally had one land in his lap and could prove to be a valuable addition if he holds onto the starting job.

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