Isaiah

Prince

The veteran back didn’t play in the preseason at all despite the amount of injuries the 49ers running back room dealt with. He’s a likely practice squad candidate after playing with the 49ers last season. The 49ers also waived/injured QB Carter Bradley and QB Tanner Mordecai, while waiving (regular) DL Jaylon Allen and DL Shakel Brown. Finally, they sent OL Isaiah Prince to injured reserve.

Prince was drafted by the Dolphins in the sixth round in 2019. He made two starts as a rookie but was ultimately waived before the end of the season. The Bengals claimed him and he remained in Cincinnati for the next three years. Injuries forced Prince into a starting position late in the 2021 season. He would go on to start eight games including all four of Cincy’s playoff outings. The Broncos signed him in the offseason but released him amidst final roster cuts. He will serve as a backup in Atlanta.

Prince will serve as offensive line depth with G Alex Cappa and T Jonah Williams ruled out. Prince has not played an offensive snap for the Bengals this season after being a regular fill-in for a unit that vastly underperformed during the 2021 season.

Prince was downgraded from questionable after missing practice all week. With RT Riley Reiff (ankle) on IR, it leaves the Bengals with third-stringer Fred Johnson opposite LT Jonah Williams, adding to the concern for Joe Burrow and the Cincy pass offense in an already tough matchup. Bengals CB Vernon Hargreaves (illness) has also been downgraded to out for Week 15.

A sixth-round pick of the Dolphins out of Ohio State last year, Prince got in on 70 offensive snaps before being cut in December and subsequently getting claimed by Cincinnati.

Prince was waived by the Dolphins just months after Miami spent a fifth-round pick on him. With the Bengals way out of contention, they’ll likely kick the tires on some young available players over the next few weeks.

At 6-foot-6 and 304 pounds, Prince likely projects as a tackle in the NFL. The best way to describe Prince is heavy, mainly his hands to create space in the running game. He isn’t naturally flexible, so pass protection might be an issue due to balance. Thankfully, Prince does have three straight seasons as a starter on the right side and will look to fill a swing tackle role in Miami.

At 6-foot-6 and 304 pounds, Prince likely projects as a tackle in the NFL. The best way to describe Prince is heavy, mainly his hands to create space in the running game. He isn’t naturally flexible, so pass protection might be an issue due to balance. Thankfully, Prince does have three straight seasons as a starter on the right side and will look to fill a swing tackle role in Miami.

Prince was a very highly-recruited player coming out of high school, and he has shown flashes of brilliance in his three-plus years with the Buckeyes. The 6-foot-7, 310-pound tackle isn’t universally beloved, however, with some wondering if he profiles better at the guard position. Serritella isn’t one of them, however. “After struggling as a sophomore, Prince made tremendous strides as a junior and looks to be even more technically sound as a senior, especially in the footwork department,” he writes. “A three-year starter at right tackle, he will probably remain in that position when he transitions to the NFL.”

Prince’s work a year ago stood out, all the more so because he struggled to large degree the previous season, his first as a starter. In 2016, his pass-blocking efficiency rating landed him in just the first percentile of blockers. That’s about as bad as you can get. Rather than let his issues get him down, the 6-foot-7, 310-pounder charged ahead with his work and made himself a better player. All told, Prince has started 27 consecutive games at right tackle heading into the 2018 season.