Dalton Risner

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Risner's path began at Wiggins High School in Colorado before he dominated college football for the Kansas State Wildcats from 2014 to 2018. During his tenure there, he started an impressive 50 of 51 games and earned All-American honors as a senior. His consistency led the Denver Broncos to select him with the 41st pick in the 2019 NFL draft. He immediately stepped in as the starting left guard, a role he held for four seasons despite missing only four total games due to injury. This durability highlighted his reliability early in his career. However, on January 3, 2023, a partial UCL tear in his right elbow placed him on injured reserve. He later signed with the Minnesota Vikings on September 19, 2023, becoming their starting left guard in Week 7 before being placed on IR again in August 2024 and activated on November 2.

In Their Own Story

The 2025 season brought a new chapter for Risner when he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on August 27. Following a Week 1 injury to Lucas Patrick, Risner took over as the starting right guard in Week 2. His role fluctuated throughout the campaign; he replaced rookie Dylan Fairchild at left guard for Weeks 6 and 7 while Jalen Rivers started at right guard. The turning point came in Week 12 when Risner replaced Rivers in the starting lineup, a move that defined the rest of his season as he held the position until the end. His resilience continued into the following year, marked by a one-year contract extension signed on March 2, 2026. Beyond the gridiron, Risner founded the RisnerUp Foundation and serves as a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics international.

Reader's Guide

Dalton Risner currently plays as an offensive guard for the Cincinnati Bengals. His professional journey started with the Denver Broncos in 2019, where he was a PFWA All-Rookie Team selection and a four-year starter at left guard before injury cut his tenure short. He subsequently played for the Minnesota Vikings from late 2023 through mid-2024. Since joining Cincinnati in August 2025, Risner has demonstrated positional flexibility, starting at right guard and later moving to left guard depending on roster needs. Fans tracking his career should note his specific game-by-game usage: a Week 2 start at right guard, a rotation at left guard during Weeks 6-7, and a permanent shift to the starting lineup in Week 12 where he remained for the rest of the season.

Did You Know?

• Risner started 50 out of 51 games during his career at Kansas State University.
• He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team after starting all but four games in his first season with Denver.
• In 2023, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings and became their starting left guard by Week 7.
• Risner created a non-profit organization called the RisnerUp Foundation.
• He serves as a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics international.