After beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-21 on Thursday night, the Cincinnati Bengals enjoyed a bye weekend the team needed from a health standpoint.
The Bengals were without wide receiver Tee Higgins (shoulder), safety Jessie Bates (neck), cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (groin) and guard Xavier Su’a-Filo (knee) against the Jaguars.
According to head coach Zac Taylor, this group of injured players is trending upwards as the Bengals get ready to face the Green Bay Packers.
“I think Jessie feels really good,” Taylor said. “His deal was just a neck last week to where we had to be really cautious with that. Jessie has really been hellbent on playing. If he had his way he would have played on Thursday. He's going through the clearance today with the doctors and we expect that to be positive and he'll be back Wednesday ready to go full speed ahead. Tee will be getting back to practice for the first time. He's optimistic. It will good to get him back out there. He looked good what little I saw Sunday morning.”
Taylor said had the Bengals played the Jaguars on a Sunday, Awuzie might have been able to play.
“Chido (Awuzie) feels good and he's going to give it a go on Wednesday,” Taylor said. “Chido's really optimistic right now as well."
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The latest on Joe Mixon’s ankle injury
In addition to the four players who couldn’t play against the Jaguars, the Bengals also lost another starter towards the end of the game. Running back Joe Mixon was not on the field during Cincinnati’s game-winning drive.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Mixon suffered a “low-grade” ankle sprain and is considered “week to week” at this point.
Taylor refuted Schefter’s report saying he would label Mixon’s status as “day-to-day” and to not read too much into his practice availability on Wednesday.
“I call him more day to day,” Taylor said. “For a running back like Joe with an ankle, early in the week, especially Wednesday, potentially going into Thursday to keep him off of it. Don’t read anything into that if he’s limited early in the week when you guys are out at practice. I know he wants to play and will do everything he can to put himself in that position.”
Mixon ranks No. 3 in the NFL in rushing yards with 353 and has two touchdowns. His impact in the Bengals’ offense can’t be understated especially as opponents will now start keying on Cincinnati’s passing attack based off the success Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd and C.J. Uzomah have had so far.
Bengals ready to prove themselves against Aaron Rodgers
After a surprising Week 1 performance against the New Orleans Saints, the Green Bay Packers appear to be hitting their stride. Aaron Rodgers and his team have rattled three straight wins.
In his 17th season, Rodgers continues to play at a high level. The reigning NFL MVP has thrown 80 completions for 897 yards and eight touchdowns.
Rodgers has earned to respect of the Bengals’ locker room and the players know they need to be at their best to compete against Rodgers.
Defensive tackle D.J. Reader believes going up against Rodgers and playing well will be a good litmus test for the defense to see how good they really are.
“They're physical up front,” Reader said. “The way they get out there in pass pro, they do a good job of setting the pocket around Aaron (Rodgers). He does a good job of getting the ball out quick. It's going to be a good test for us. I'm excited to go out there and compete on Sunday.”
It’s not just about the defense playing well in terms of how the Bengals can beat the Packers. Cincinnati’s offense will need to score early and often to keep pace with Green Bay’s offense.
Rookie Ja’Marr Chase is off to a tremendous start in his first season and he understands while in his first matchup with Rodgers, the Bengals’ offense needs to capitalize on their opportunities when they are on the field.
“They got Aaron Rodgers on their team,” Chase said. “Lord knows I respect that man. I've watched him come back in 36 seconds so just high praise of him and just sitting on the sidelines watching him play, we're going to need to score (and) put up more points than he does because of who he is.”
The Packers are the 8th-best team on third down this season with a 44.4 completion percentage. Cincinnati’s defense will have to find a way to get after Rodgers and get off the field on third down to win on Sunday.
Jackson Carman will continue to get the nod at right guard
Carman, the Bengals’ second-round pick, will get his third start against the Packers, Taylor confirmed on Monday.
Although Taylor was hesitant to name Carman the permanent starter for the remainder of the season, he did say he was pleased with what he’s seen from the rookie since he stepped into his starting role. Su’a-Filo is considered “day-to-day” and is planning to test his knee at practice on Wednesday.
Su’a-Filo started two games at right guard for the Bengals before suffering an injury against the Chicago Bears that put Carman in line to start against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3.
“With every rep he gets he's going to see a different style of defensive tackle and defense end and the way the backers play,” Taylor said. “It's not a rush to judgment on Jackson, we just want to see improvement every day and every week. I've been pleased with the direction that Jackson is heading."
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