Rotations along defensive lines are one of the most common practices in the NFL today.

Along the offensive line, not so much — though Cincinnati Bengals line coach Paul Alexander sees value in taking the approach this season with the trio of Cedric Ogbuehi, Jake Fisher and Andre Smith.

After a disastrous 0-2 start lowlighted by an inability to score a touchdown and resulting in the firing of offensive coordinator Ken Zampese, Bengals offensive coaches were put on notice.

Alexander responded by bringing in Smith at right tackle for Fisher as needed and mostly for Ogbuehi on the left side.

He’s not shy when it comes to talking about the odd approach, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN.

“I think the mix we’ve had the last couple of weeks has helped all their play,” Alexander said. “We’ve got three players so why not? We rotate defensive linemen, we rotate every other position. We’ve done it here for years.”

This sounds like typical coach speak on first pass, but Ogbuehi did turn in a strong performance in Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns despite watching Smith get the nod as starter.

If the approach keeps working like that, Alexander will have found an innovative solution to an otherwise miserable situation after the team lost Kevin Zeitler and Andrew Whitworth to free agency last offeseason.

Smith rotating for both guys (something Marvin Lewis initially tried to attribute to heat in Green Bay) isn’t a long-term solution by any means and couldn’t have been the trust-the-process plan going into the season.

But it worked against the Browns. Now the trick is to make sure it works against a much better opponent in Week with the Buffalo Bills in town.