'It looks natural': How Bengals' Jonah Williams is progressing in move to right tackle

After a tumultuous offseason filled with a trade request while rehabbing from a gruesome knee injury, Cincinnati Bengals tackle Jonah Williams aced his first week playing right tackle.

The Bengals and Williams are looking forward now, not backward. And for Williams, that’s putting his full attention into being the best right tackle he can be.

He’s on his way.

“I like where Jonah is at switching over to the right (side) his very first week. (It) looks like he's been there for a couple years,” offensive line coach Frank Pollack said. “It looks very natural. It shows me that one, he's talented, he's athletic and he's been working on it.”

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Williams missed the Bengals’ voluntary offseason program and was not fully cleared until the end of June. The timeline is important here because although Williams knew he would likely be switching positions in early May after the Bengals opted not to trade him, his injury stalled his transition to the right side.

It’s why the Bengals are being cautious with Williams. Head coach Zac Taylor said they have a plan to ensure no setbacks occur. Williams started the first day of practice at right tackle then Jackson Carman took over on Thursday. Taylor gave several players, including Williams, a rest day on Friday.

So much of Williams’ position switch depends on the health of his lower body.

“It’s a little bit harder on the right side coming off the injury that I had because I injured my left knee and most of playing right tackle is actually pushing off your inside foot,” Williams said. “So, my left foot is more like bracing and taking on weight with my outside. I'm just, like, focusing on keeping my weight over my inside foot. And that's kind of why it was hard to get too many reps in this offseason until my knee was at a point that I could be, like, cleared to go just because I wasn't able to get what I needed out of it to play the position.”

Seven years have passed since Williams last played right tackle. Getting comfortable at the position is step one. The Bengals and Williams need comfort to grow into confidence by Sept. 10 when the team takes on the Cleveland Browns.

Switching sides on the offensive line isn’t as easy as it might sound. The reps Williams will get in practice will be invaluable because it’s unclear if Taylor will play Williams in the preseason.

When the team puts pads on Tuesday, Pollack will get a better gauge of Williams' status. Pollack acknowledged the frustrations that can come with this process.

Williams, however, has exceeded expectations across the board and the rust his position coach expected to see hasn’t been there.

"I expected to see a little bit more of that (frustration) early, even in shorts. I haven't seen it,” Pollack said. “My hat's off to him. It shows he's worked hard and shows you what a talented player he is. So, kudos to Jonah.”

As for if Williams believes the move to right tackle will benefit him long-term, he’s open to the idea. And while he can’t predict the future, he’s going to do everything he can do to make the best out of the situation.

“I'm approaching it that I want to be better at right tackle than I ever was at left,” Williams said, “and if that's the case, like right tackle better.”