Former University of Alabama tackle Jonah Williams, the first offensive lineman selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, is likely to miss the entire 2019 season, the Cincinnati Bengals announced on Tuesday.
Williams underwent left shoulder surgery Tuesday to repair a torn labrum that is likely to sideline him for the entire season, the Bengals said in a release on their website. Williams is expected to make a full recovery.
He sat out the June 11-13 mandatory minicamp after getting injured the week before in practice.
“We look forward to Jonah being a major contributor in the future, and know that he won’t let this injury deter him from still being an important part of this team,” said Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor in a news release. “We’re confident in our offensive line personnel as we head into training camp, and we believe they can do their part in helping this team achieve its goals.”
Williams was immediately made the Bengals’ starting left tackle when NFL team drills started last month and incumbent Cordy Glenn moved over one spot to left guard. Presumably the injury puts Glenn and his 90 NFL starts at left tackle.
This marks the second straight season that the Bengals have taken an offensive lineman in the first round of the draft, only to lose the player to injury in the preseason. Isaiah Wynn, the No. 23 overall pick out of Georgia, suffered a season-ending torn Achilles on his ninth pre-season snap last year.
Williams was an immediate starter at Alabama as a freshman in 2016 and left UA after a three-year career as one of Alabama’s most decorated players ever. He was a two-time All-American (2017 and 2018, a Jacobs Award winter as the best blocker in the SEC in 2017 and an Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award finalist as a junior in 2018, starting his entire career (44 consecutive games, 29 at left tackle and 15 at right tackle.)
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or 205-722-0225.
