The transformation of Jonah Williams into Cincinnati’s right offensive tackle took another step forward on Friday night when the former Alabama All-American played 11 snaps in that spot during the Bengals’ 13-13 preseason tie with the Atlanta Falcons.

“I thought it was good,” Williams told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I’m the only guy making a position switch, so I think it was valuable for me to get out there and get some game reps. Good to be out there. Got some jitters out. I thought I played pretty well.”

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Williams was the only member of the projected starting offense to play in the preseason game. He was on the field for his first NFL snaps at right tackle during the Bengals’ opening possession – a 52-yard series that ended on downs at the Atlanta 23-yard line.

Williams joined Cincinnati as the 11th selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. After an injury caused him to miss his rookie season, Williams had been the Bengals’ left tackle for the past three seasons.

When Cincinnati lured four-time Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Brown Jr. from the Kansas City Chiefs for a four-year, $64.092 million contract in March, the Bengals hoped Williams could become their right tackle, with Brown slated to man Williams’ former spot. Cincinnati had guaranteed Williams a $12.604 million payday for the 2023 season by picking up its fifth-year option on his rookie contract last offseason.

Williams had most recently worked at right tackle as an Alabama freshman in 2016, before shifting to left tackle in 2017.

After signing a three-year, $21 million contract in free agency, La’el Collins played right tackle for the Bengals in 2022 until he suffered a knee injury in the 15th game. Collins has not started practice yet for the 2023 season.

Williams also is coming off an injury.

Williams dislocated a kneecap in the second quarter of a 19-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 9. He came back to play in the second half and took every offensive snap for the rest of the season until he dislocated the kneecap again in a 24-17 victory over the Ravens on Jan. 15 in the first round of the NFL playoffs. Williams missed the Bengals’ remaining two postseason games.

In the offseason, Williams had medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, an operation needed to attach the inside part of the kneecap to the femur. He practiced for the first time at Cincinnati’s mandatory minicamp in June.

The Bengals will conclude their preseason schedule when they visit the Washington Commanders at 5:05 p.m. CDT Saturday.

Cincinnati will start the regular season with an AFC North rivalry game against the Cleveland Browns at noon Sept. 10 at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.