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The Bengals will be back on the practice field later today after getting a break on Thursday, and it hopefully helped injured players inch closer to a return.
That seems to be the case with Billy Price, as he has passed his physical and will be able to practice today, the team announced Friday. Price opened camp on the Active/Non-Football Injury list with what was an undisclosed issue.
However, NFL reporter James Palmer says it was plantar fasciitis that Price was dealing with.
Bengals C Billy Price has passed a physical and is expected to return to practice today. Price was placed on the Active/Non-Football Injury list last Friday (July 26). The Bengals were never overly concerned about Price, who had plantar fasciitis I was told.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) August 2, 2019
Price, who was the team’s first-round pick (21st overall) by way of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2018 NFL Draft, quickly became Cincinnati’s full-time starting center as a rookie, though he suffered a foot injury in Game 2 that wound up costing him six games. It’s unclear if Price’s plantar fasciitis is on the same foot he injured last season.
Overall, it was an up-and-down rookie season for Price, but he showed enough potential to think he can become a quality starting center in Year 2. That’s something the Bengals’ offensive line desperately needs with all of the turnover and injuries it’s sustained already this year. Having an anchor at center would certainly help ease some of those pains.