Eric Winston better prepared this time

When the Bengals played at Cleveland in December, Hue Jackson looked at Eric Winston at halftime and asked him if he was ready to go in the game.

With right tackle Andre Smith on IR and the offensive coordinator playing with combinations to replace him, he turned to the nine-year veteran who signed one week prior to see what he could do. What he did was step in and start the rest of the season.

As Smith battles a concussion and looks unlikely to play Thursday, Jackson turns to Winston again. Only, nearly a year later, the transition comes much easier.

"It helps a lot that I was here last year and played some last year," Winston said. "Then it all comes back a little faster. It's a little more muscle memory now, I'll be able to hone in on giving great effort and playing well. Not necessarily just being on the right guy."

The third-round pick of the Houston Texans also serves as the NFL Players' Association president and quickly found a connection and camaraderie within the Bengals' locker room. Cincinnati re-signed him this offseason for the reliability he brings as an insurance policy. He spent much of camp also working inside at guard for the first time in his career so he could step in at backup should an injury occur there.

The juxtaposition is interesting considering the arrival of first-round pick OL Cedric Ogbuehi and second-round pick OL Jake Fisher. Ogbuehi is done with his rehab, but still working out on the Physically Unable to Perform list, meanwhile Fisher spends most of his time working as a backup at left tackle and large tight end in specific formations.

They are next in line if an injury occurs in some spots, but Winston spent his entire career manning the right tackle spot so he's the sure choice at this point in time to step in for Smith.

"When I came into the league I started at right tackle and stayed there the whole time," Winston said. "A lot of guys have a year or two where they back up a lot of places and then get entrenched somewhere they play but always rely on that stuff. I've never played guard or really any other spots. Obviously I've played left tackle in college but, then moving to right for the last 10 years it's been right tackle."


(cincinnati.com)