The Bengals will lean into offensive-line upgrades as the trade deadline nears, mixing acquisitions of proven blockers with selective asset moves. Hendrickson isn’t viewed as a trade candidate due to his contract, while Amarius Mims and Dylan Fairchild continue to develop in a unit that has struggled in 2025. Cincinnati has shown it benefits from outside OL help, citing past adds like Orlando Brown Jr., Ted Karras, and Alex Cappa as proof the fastest path to improvement is through proven veterans rather than internal development alone.

With a broader rebuild on the horizon, the plan could tilt toward signing depth rather than wholescale selling, but the overarching goal remains protecting Burrow and stabilizing the line. If blowouts persist, expect a delicate balance of buying and selling to accelerate a post-season reset and set up a sharper offseason strategy focused on a stronger front five.

Dalton Risner’s Bengals debut hasn’t sealed Week 4’s right guard job against Denver. Zac Taylor flagged multiple options beside Ted Karras as Cincinnati tries to stabilize a struggling run game and shaky line play. Risner is still acclimating, and rookie Jalen Rivers could win the nod if he’s further along in the install.

With development on tap and the Broncos looming, fantasy managers should watch how the line reshuffles affects Burrow’s time in the pocket and the Bengals’ run attempts. If Rivers starts, expect a notable shift in protection schemes and potential late-week DFS pivots as the team weighs upside from rookie development versus immediate stability.