DENVER _ The Bengals' offensive line warmups Monday night here at Empower Field at Mile High revealed they are going with rookie Jalen Rivers at right guard against the Broncos' menacing pass rush.

It marks the first time in nearly 30 years the Bengals are starting rookie guards when Rivers lined up across from left guard Dylan Fairchild, according to Elias.

Rivers, a fifth-rounder from Miami, is their third starting right guard in four games after Lucas Patrick (calf) went on injured reserve following the opener and Dalton Risner (calf) left last week after 36 snaps in Minnesota.

Risner went full in a practice week that began with head coach Zac Taylor praising the work of Rivers in what amounted to NFL his debut against the Vikings with 23 snaps.

"He held up well against a good defensive front that offers a lot of looks," Taylor said. "I didn't see anything that alarmed me or would cause some concern. That's what you've seen from him really the whole way. He's only continued to improve. He's got a lot of great traits, so I've got a lot of confidence in him."

Once the Bengals got their hands on Rivers following a draft some thought he was good enough to go in the third round, they've been nothing but impressed. Although they put Rivers at tackle in the spring and early in training camp with superb college career pass protection on his resume, they always thought he was a guy who had the potential to be a starting guard.

It was there all over his Miami tape. He started his last 21 games at left tackle, but last season he alternated series between guard and tackle.

After the draft, Bengals assistant general manager Mike Potts, who runs college scouting, made it clear they thought he gave them plenty of options.

"He's a guy with super long (35 inches) arms," Potts told Bengals.com in the spring. "He's really patient and instinctive. Really aware. You see the football intelligence and instincts on his tape.

"It's not like he's light years from improvement (in the run game). He's got every trait in his body … I don't know if he's going to end up starting as a rookie or later in his career, but he's a valuable piece in terms of his ability, his makeup, and his versatility."

Mile High Rush

Rivers and Fairchild, the Bengals' first rookie guards to start since the 1996 opener in St. Louis against the Rams, face a formidable test in a Denver defense known for getting to the quarterback.

According to The Athletic via TruMedia, the Broncos lead the NFL in pressure rate at 50% when the opposing passer drops back. They have a big lead in quarterback hits with 36 and have unleashed pressure in an average of 2.43 seconds after the snap, third-fastest league-wide.

The Bengals lost that Sept. 1, 1996 opener, 26-16, that was started by third-rounder Ken Blackman at right guard and seventh-rounder Rod Jones at left guard.

Slants and Screens

The Bengals' inactive list featured three defensive linemen, McKinnley Jackson, Howard Cross III and the injured Shemar Stewart. Of the four teams that had yet to play in Week 4, the only teams that had fewer rush attempts than the Broncos (75) were the Dolphins (52) and Bengals (61) …

Also on the list was tight end Noah Fant (concussion) and wide receiver Jermaine Burton, still looking to play in his first game of the year …

From 1,000-1.

According to S.I.'s Jay Morrison, Monday is Bengals Ring of Honor member Dave Lapham's 1,000^th NFL game, counting preseason, regular season, and postseason from his ten seasons as a player and his 40 as the club's radio analyst.

In the same booth Monday comes an NFL debut when Sam Hoard, the son of Lapham's play-by-play man Dan Hoard, serves as his father's spotter for the first time in his 15 years of calling the club's games. Sam Hoard, a sophomore at the University of Colorado, helped out at some University of Cincinnati games while growing up …

Asked about his offensive line last week, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor expressed confidence in a bounce-back game and showed it when he sent out left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and center Ted Karras with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase for the coin toss. Karras called tails, it was heads, and Denver deferred...