Since his last game on Oct. 10, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Trae Waynes still hasn’t had a chance to make up for his last play.
In Week 5, Waynes allowed the 15-yard pass in overtime that set up the Green Bay Packers' game-winning field goal in overtime. On that play, Waynes lined up in press coverage, cut toward the middle of the field and injured his hamstring right as wide receiver Randall Cobb made the catch.
Waynes has spent the last two months waiting to get back to 100%. Since Waynes also missed the start of this season with a hamstring injury, the Bengals coaching staff gave him more time to get back to full strength.
On Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, Waynes could return to the field for the Bengals. After he was cleared to practice this week, Waynes can earn his way back into the starting lineup with a good week of practice.
“(We) have a veteran corner who has been a starter in this league and has been productive,” Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said. “You look around the league, there’s a lot of people that would love to have a guy like that in the bullpen right now. While it hasn’t been ideal from a health standpoint, nobody is more frustrated than him.”
Waynes’ entire Bengals career has been frustrating, which is a word he used six times during an offseason interview. In 2020, he signed a three-year deal worth up to $42 million, which made Waynes the Bengals' top cornerback on the depth chart. That summer, Waynes tore his pectoral while lifting weights, and he missed the entire 2020 season.
In 2021, Waynes was healthy for nearly the entire offseason. Then, in the last few days of training camp, Waynes injured his hamstring. He returned Sept. 30 for the Bengals game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and participated in two games.
Two years after he signed with the Bengals, Waynes has still only played 96 total snaps.
“It's unfortunate for a guy who really hasn't been healthy,” Anarumo said in October. “I don't think we've seen the best of him, and I think once he's healthy and fully available, we'll get a better Trae Waynes, I don't have any doubt.”
The Bengals coaching staff showed how highly they viewed Waynes in 2020 when Cincinnati made him the 10th highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. The coaches saw Waynes as a cornerback who played in a similar defensive scheme with the Minnesota Vikings, and the coaches were impressed with his tackling, his physicality and his consistency.
Even though Waynes had never been a Pro Bowler, he used standout technique to prevent big plays, contest catches and tackle on the perimeter. It’s exactly the skill set the Bengals will need on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
Bengals No. 1 cornerback Chidobe Awuzie hasn’t practiced this week, and his status for Sunday’s game is uncertain due to a foot injury. If Awuzie is out, Waynes could start and take advantage of his ability as a run defender against the 49ers' standout rushing attack.
Awuzie has also spent time defending elite tight ends in one-on-one coverage this season, and Waynes has the skill set to fill that role against 49ers All-Pro George Kittle.
“He’s feeling much better,” Anarumo said. “Looking forward to seeing what he does today (in practice) and how the week goes.”
PINKY UPDATE: Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow dislocated his pinky last week against the Los Angeles Chargers. After missing practice on Wednesday, Burrow participated in practice on Thursday.
Burrow made most of his usual throws and looked on track to start this week against the 49ers.
MIXON’S STATUS: Bengals running back Joe Mixon missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday with an illness.
Last week, defensive end Khalid Kareem and wide receiver Mike Thomas were out with the flu. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor didn’t give a specification for Mixon’s illness.
“Some guys feel differently than the other guys,” Taylor said. “The two guys last week were confirmed (to have the) flu. Two of our (defensive) linemen are the same. Joe Mixon's not in that category yet. So you just have to see where it goes.”
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