When vet guard Dalton Risner practiced with the Bengals for the first time Thursday, it wasn't a whole heck of a lot different than his top 30 no-brainer visit to the Broncos in the lead up to the 2019 draft.

Bengals passing game coordinator Justin Rascati was there as an assistant offensive line coach in Denver and can recite the short-hand memory.

"Never has a bad day," Rascati said after Thursday's practice. "Smart. Football is important to him. A natural fit in the O-Line room. Full of personality."

The Broncos took Risner in the second round, and 81 starts later with Denver and Minnesota, the Bengals signed him Thursday and are now looking at their most experienced offensive line room in probably a generation. Three players are at least 30 years old. Five are beginning at least their seventh year in the league.

You may have to go all the way back to Ring of Honor member Willie Anderson's 2001offensive line to get close to that many starts and seasons in stripes up front with Richmond Webb, Rich Braham and Matt O'Dwyer.

"A lot of starts in the room," said left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who has 103 of the 402. "It makes the continuity that much easier to jell. He's had success. He'll help us."

Another voice from those days in Denver agrees. Bengals tight end Noah Fant, the Broncos' first-rounder that year, appeared in several photo ops with Risner that draft weekend and began a friendship that lasts today. And he's happy for his friend.

"It's a great fit for him here. I'm excited for him to be here," Fant said. "Obviously, we're going to throw the ball. Dalton's really strong on pass protection. He has been his whole career. He can run block well, too. But having him in the fold, we'll be able to mix it up. His athleticism is underrated, and he makes our team better."

But then again, Fant's is also getting a friend in the huddle, too.

"I spent a good amount of time with Dalton. We had a lot of good times together," Fant said. "We were just talking about it today. How crazy God works. It's a pretty cool thing."

Center Ted Karras, who makes his 100^th NFL start in the opener in Cleveland, also thinks it's pretty cool.

"He's a professional. He's been in the league a long time," Karras said. "Glad to have another good player in the room."

Risner has started two of the most memorable games and must-wins in the Joe Burrow era.

He was the left guard for the Broncos on Dec. 19, 2021, when a 15-10 victory in Mile High vaulted the Bengals to 8-6 on the way to the Super Bowl. Two years to the week in 2023 at Paycor Stadium, he was the left guard for the Vikings when Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins personally kept them in the playoff hunt with two fourth-quarter touchdowns that set up a winning overtime.

"He went dummy. He did something ridiculous at the end of the game," said Risner of Higgins' one-handed sweep tying touchdown as he reflected on what comes to mind about the Bengals.

"Winning football. The players on their roster. Joe Burrow, Orlando Brown, Tee Higgins. Ja’Marr Chase. All these guys are great players. There are a lot of names I'm forgetting. Trey Hendrickson. The way they carry themselves is at an elite level. Humble. And good dudes."

Now Risner is one of them, and it sounds like he's got the good dude thing wrapped up.

"Great dude," Fant said. "He'll talk to anyone and everybody. Great dude. That's all you can say."

And those who have watched him think he belongs on a team teeming with talent. Such as Rascati, who also spent time with him in Minnesota.

"He's still a young player," said Rascati of a guy who turned 30 only last month. "His best football may still be in front of him."