It took longer than some might have expected, but former Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Dalton Risner finally found a team for the 2025 NFL season after being a free agent through all of training camp and preseason.
Risner is a veteran blocker who should be an instant asset for any team that signs him. The fact that he sat in free agency for so long is baffling, considering what he can bring to a team that needs reinforcements on the interior of the offensive line.
Cincinnati Bengals sign former Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Dalton Risner
On Thursday, the Cincinnati Bengals announced Risner's signing with a photo of the former Minnesota Vikings guard smiling while putting ink to paper. This is a great signing for them since they need help protecting quarterback Joe Burrow and their investment in the team's passing attack.
We have signed free agent G Dalton Risner.⁰⁰📰: https://t.co/mQuboJ9Ae3 pic.twitter.com/AwY8XBJQHS
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 28, 2025
Stripe Hype shared enthusiasm about the Bengals' signing of Dalton Risner. In the article, author Matt Fitzgerald praised his ability as a pass blocker and believes he could ascend into the starting lineup as soon as Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.
"Make no mistake. Any way anyone wants to twist this news, this is a great day for Who Dey Nation. Dalton Risner is a Bengal. Now let's get through these next several practices, manifest Risner ascending to RG1, and prepare for him to run through Browns defenders' souls on Sunday, Sept. 7!"
It was highly unlikely that Risner was going to start the 2025 NFL season without being on a team's roster. However, his patience landed him in a great spot with the Bengals, a location where he should see a lot of work in pass protection.
Cincinnati is an interesting place this year. With them giving a handful of players huge contracts, it can be difficult to assemble a roster around them with limited salary cap space, but Risner fits that role in a great way for the Bengals.
For Dalton Risner, this is the perfect time to find a team. He skipped training camp, all three preseason games, and the stress of teams trimming their rosters to 53 players. Being signed at this point in the lead-up to the 2025 NFL season means his position is likely fairly secure in Cincinnati.
The Minnesota Vikings will face the Cincinnati Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis in Week 3. This showdown could be explosive since two teams with a lot of offensive weapons will be going head-to-head before the purple and gold pack for their two-week stay in Europe.