Orlando Brown Jr. shares optimistic take on the state of the Bengals offensive line

On the surface, the Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive line is not in much better shape today than it was at the end of last season. The Bengals are set at center and left and right tackle, with the question marks being left and right guard.

Cincinnati drafted former Georgia standout Dylan Fairchild in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft to fill the left guard role and nabbed former New Orleans Saint Lucas Patrick to fill the right guard spot.

To hear left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. tell it, that should be enough.

“We’re in a much better spot than we’ve been in up front, just in terms of guys being here, having experience, not many new faces, outside of Dylan and Lucas,” Brown said in a recent interview. “I think the spot that we’re in compared to years past, we’re way far ahead than where we’ve been.

“At the end of the day, the cohesiveness, the camaraderie, the continuity, those are all important when you talk about offensive line play. It’s only going to allow us to be more comfortable in the heat of battle.”

That’s pretty high praise for a pair of newcomers, especially considering the fact that the line has only been working together since the start of voluntary workouts on April 21. But maybe the X-factor here is new offensive line coach Scott Peters.

Peters has been tasked with bringing this group together and improving the consistency of one of the most inconsistent units in football over the past several seasons – starting from the ground up.

“It’s not easy to start from zero,” Peters said recently. “Some of the techniques are new, it’s not just go out there and throw your hands out there. It’s how you do it, from what platform, from what foundation your body operates from so your strikes are impactful and you are doing it without having to compromise posture. Guys will throw heavy hands and get beat and wiped and stuff.

“It is teaching them a foundation of how you throw a proper strike. You throw a proper strike and do it with good mechanics and ramp up the speed it looks like you have more pop in your hands, you have more length, you can play with better posture so if they did wipe your hands or knock you hands down you wont’ be staggering forward and get beat.”

Center Ted Karras, who has adopted the role of a player-coach as he works with the younger linemen, calls the approach a “huge refresh” and suddenly finds himself more in the position of a student than a teacher.

“A lot of it is brand new for me,” he said, “so, Year 10, that’s pretty unique.”

Karras, like all the other linemen, had plenty of time to learn the new techniques.

Phase One of the voluntary offseason program began on April 21, lasted for two weeks, and was limited to strength and conditioning training and physical rehabilitation.

Phase Two began on May 5 and lasted three weeks. During that phase, teams are permitted to begin on-field workouts, including individual and group drills. Teams can conduct walkthroughs of drills and plays, but offensive players cannot line up against defensive players.

Organized team activities began with Phase Three, which started on May 26. Live contact is still not allowed, but more drills are permitted, including 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11.

“It gives a chance to build the fundamentals,” Peters said, “then we talk about when and where you apply those things. You are building a toolbox.”

Brown, who is beginning his eighth season on his third NFL team, appreciates the changes in the approach Peters has brought to the unit so far this year.

“It’s good for a lot of guys,” Brown said. “Especially those that maybe struggled recently. He brings a breath of fresh air.”