Bengals release starting center Trey Hopkins

The busy week along the Bengals offensive line continues. The team announced Friday that it is releasing center Trey Hopkins, via ProFootballTalk's Josh Alper. 

The 29-year-old had been with the Bengals since joining the team as a UDFA in 2016. He occupied the starting center position since the midway point of the 2018 season. He provided consistent, if unspectacular play during that stretch.

Hopkins’ best PFF grade came last campaign, registering a mark of 63.8. Overall, he will best be known as a member of the unit that was seen as the weak point of Cincinnati’s roster. Quarterback Joe Burrow was sacked a league-leading 51 times in 2021, after being taken down 32 times in an injury-shortened season the year before. Hopkins himself was responsible for five of those, per PFF.

The Texas alum will be replaced in the middle of the line by recent signee Ted Karras. The other main addition along the offensive front was that of guard Alex Cappa, who established himself in Tampa Bay as one of the best young talents at the position. The investment Cincinnati has made in those two demonstrates how much of a priority upgrading the O-line is for them.

Hopkins, meanwhile, will join a free-agent market that no longer includes either Ryan Jensen and Bradley Bozeman. Alongside J.C. Tretter — who recently suffered the same fate as Hopkins — he will now search for a new home after six years in the AFC North.