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Bengals HC Zac Taylor looks on the bright side discussing veteran starter's injury, provides possible timetable for return

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By John Sheeran | Last updated May 9, 2025 3:43 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill showed up to voluntary workouts this week with a walking boot covering his left foot. Hill is not going to be practicing for the time being, more specifically, perhaps for the rest of the month of May.

Head coach Zac Taylor doesn't expect his starting 3-technique to be out for very long.

"It'll be a couple weeks here in the offseason program, which I'm thankful for," Taylor told reporters following Friday's rookie minicamp.

Cincinnati will reconvene for offseason workouts Monday, combining all draft picks who've signed their contracts, undrafted free agent signings, and veterans reporting to practice.

Trey Hendrickson and Germaine Pratt aren't expected to show due to a contract stalemate and trade request, respectively.

Hill will be present, and if he's not, he'll be rehabbing his injury. The 30-year old missing on-field time in the month of May is not a large concern in Taylor's mind.

"We'll be very slow to go with him in the offseason," Taylor said. "B.J.'s a guy who's accrued a lot of reps here, knows what we're doing, so we'll be very careful with him."

Zac Taylor says BJ Hill will be in a boot “for a couple of weeks in the off-season program” priority is making sure he is fully healthy going forward. No update on Trey Hendrickson negotiations. pic.twitter.com/1312KJYX40
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) May 9, 2025

The Bengals signed Hill to a three-year, $33 million contract extension prior to free agency officially ensuing back in March. Hill has started for the past three years in Cincinnati and was a major factor during the team's Super Bowl run back in 2021 when he played more of a rotational role.

As Taylor notes, Hill's been here for a while, longer than most on the defensive line. He needs full health more than he needs pad-less reps in the springtime.

Without Hill working through drills, Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson will naturally see increased reps next to T.J. Slaton, the club's lone external free agent addition along the d-line. Undrafted free agents Dante Barnet,, Howard Cross III, and Eric Gregory will fill out the position group.

Cincinnati's OTAs officially take place from May 27-29 and mandatory minicamp goes from June 10-12. Hill could potentially participate in the latter based on Taylor's answer, but that decision will be made much closer to then.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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