The Bengals did what they don't normally do Monday and pulled off a straight player-for-player trade when they dealt back-up center Billy Price to the Giants for back-up three technique B.J. Hill.
Translation: That must mean rookie center Trey Hill, believed to have suffered a hip flexor in Sunday's preseason finale, can be back in time for the Sept. 12 opener against the Vikings at Paul Brown Stadium and serve as Trey Hopkins' backup.
It also probably means that the 6-3, 311-pound Hill is slated to back up Larry Ogunjobi at defensive tackle. Hill, 26, a third-rounder out of North Carolina State, has never missed a game and has 17 starts in a career he has 7.5 sacks and 13 hits on the quarterback in 48 games, according to Pro Football Reference.
The Bengals' last two one-for-ones before this one came at the same point in the season when injuries had decimated them at one position.
View photos of new Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill. Hill was acquired in a trade from the New York Giants.
New York Giants defensive tackle B.J. Hill (95) sacks Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
New York Giants defensive end B.J. Hill walks off the field at halftime of an NFL preseason football game against the New York Jets, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants defensive lineman B.J. Hill is pictured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
New York Giants defensive end B.J. Hill (95) celebrates during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
New York Giants defensive end B.J. Hill in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Philadelphia Eagles' Carson Wentz (11) is sacked by New York Giants Dexter Lawrence (97) and B.J. Hill (95) during an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
New York Giants defensive end B.J. Hill (95) and linebacker Markus Golden (44) sack Washington Redskins quarterback Case Keenum during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
New York Giants defensive lineman B.J. Hill (95) takes the field during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel (4) scrambles as New York Giants defensive end B.J. Hill (95) looks to make the hit during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants defensive end B.J. Hill (95) gestures during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 20: New York Giants defensive end BJ Hill (95) sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) during an NFL game between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants on September 20, 2020 at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Te Bates via AP)
They did work one last year during final cuts when they picked up defensive tackle Christian Covington from the Broncos for linebacker Austin Calitro. The last one-for-one before that came in 2011 when they picked up cornerback Kelly Jennings from Seattle for defensive tackle Clinton McDonald.
The Bengals aren't decimated at the three technique, but they can use depth at that spot.
It's also one of those rare trades with a first-rounder. Price, who set the Ohio State record with 55 straight starts, was the 21st player taken in 2018. He becomes the tenth first-rounder traded by the Bengals and the first since they dealt quarterback Carson Palmer to the Raiders on Deadline Day in 2011 and linebacker Keith Rivers to the Giants in 2012.
