Bengals rookie OTA update: Overlooked name on injury comeback trail

When the Cincinnati Bengals selected Auburn center Connor Lew in the fourth round of April’s draft, they knew they were playing the long game. Lew is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season and is continuing to rehab his knee.

The Bengals have the advantage of being able to take their time with Lew. Ted Karras is back for at least one more season, probably his final season, as the Bengals’ center. Dylan Fairchild and Dalton Risner are also set as the two guards. There is no need to rush Lew, giving him all the time he needs to get back to 100 percent. Lew also said when he was drafted that he expected to be back in time for training camp.

“The knee is great,” Lew said after he was drafted. “I haven’t had any setbacks, any problems. If anything, I’m a little bit ahead of schedule with the recovery timeline. We’re thinking I’ll be 100 percent for camp.”

The early outlook is that his rehab process is going very smoothly. He was seen working with Nick Cosgray, the Bengals’ Director of Rehabilitation, during Tuesday’s OTA session.

“We felt confident in his ability before the injury, and we feel confident in his ability when he returns,” said assistant GM Steven Radicevic, via Bengals’ radio voice Dan Hoard. “We feel fortunate that we were able to get him in the fourth round.”

Lew played 29 games and started 25 for Auburn before his injury, cracking the starting lineup in his first year at Auburn, starting the final six games as a freshman, and was named Freshman All-American and SEC All-American.

If he can stay healthy, Lew can join Fairchild as potential long-standing pieces of the Bengals’ offensive line. If his recent news is any indication, Lew will be back soon and ready to go.