The Cincinnati Bengals may have some serious issues pop up after their escape from the Tennessee Titans yesterday. Two pretty big names were declared out with injuries fairly quickly after exiting. That doesn’t always mean something, but it could. That is what the watches are for.
The biggest name was DJ Turner exiting with an ankle injury after helping on a tackle with Tony Pollard. This hurts for two reasons. The most obvious is that Turner may be one of the best players on the defense, period.
He has been super consistent in coverage and has been one of the better tacklers in space. The other reason is that the Bengals have proven their depth at corner has been an issue.
The other player is rookie edge rusher Cashius Howell. He may not be the most productive player in the box score, but he gets pressure at a pretty good rate. He has also proven to be a big part of the rotation on the defensive line this season behind Boye Mafe and Myles Murphy.
Will these two miss major time, or can they get back out there soon? These are major storylines to follow this week for the Bengals.
Bengals News
Bengals DE Shemar Stewart Active for Titans After Being a Healthy Scratch vs. Ravens
It is good to see that it truly looks like it was an isolated incident that Stewart was inactive last week despite being healthy. However, at some point this guy may need some snaps in games to actually improve. That was supposed to be a reason Al Golden was brought in after Lou Anarumo, right?
Postgame Quick Hits | Joe Burrow’s Bengals Grind To Thrilling OT Win: ‘I Looked At Him And Told Him He Was Legendary’
It is rough that it took this kind of effort to defeat the Titans, but any given Sunday a team can come out and really put up the fight of their life. It is frustrating to watch this team try to sleepwalk through lesser teams. The opposing team gets some momentum, and that can carry an entire game if you let it, like it did today. Luckily, the Bengals had just enough to pull out a win at the end of the day.
‘Ask Zac.’ Ja’Marr Chase on how Bengals can avoid slow starts
Zac Taylor gets credit for this team’s Super Bowl run and has done some nice things to change the culture in the building. It might be fair to say that this team could benefit from a fresh voice and new ideas. These slow starts have been so consistent that it is hard not to watch and think Taylor and his staff have something to do with it.
NFL News
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson to undergo surgery on right thumb, will be placed on IR
Bengals fans know how bad a season can turn after losing your franchise quarterback to injury. Jackson threw one pass before hitting his hand on a defender’s helmet. It certainly looks like at least one AFC North team will be losing pace with the top of the division now, though.
Buccaneers’ Todd Bowles on zero-completion win over Falcons: There’s a ‘first time for everything’
Truly one of the more remarkable things is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pulling out two wins where they basically called on running back Bucky Irving and the running game to weather the load. The weather had a massive impact on the play calling here, but it certainly isn’t something you will see happen again in a long time.
Lions LB Jack Campbell carted off field, evaluated for neck injury at hospital
It is always scary to see a player leave in that fashion. It is certainly good that he is receiving the care he needs. Just always helps to remember how violent this sport truly is and that the guys playing it are humans as well.
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