The Cincinnati Bengals are about as healthy as one could hope for two weeks into the regular season.
Their next opponent? Not exactly.
While the Houston Texans did technically enter Week 1 with a fully healthy 53-man roster, it didn’t tell the whole story, as they’d already placed a host of key players on injured reserve. That includes wide receivers Tank Dell and Jayden Higgins, defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, offensive tackle Braden Smith, and linebacker E.J. Speed.
That last one is especially important,
as the Texans suffered two more linebacker injuries in Sunday’s 36-31 defeat to the Bills. The main concern is starter Henry To’oTo’o suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter and left the stadium in a sling. To’oTo’o is expected to be out this week and possibly longer.
Adding to their troubles is that To’oTo’o’s backup, Jake Hummel, suffered a groin injury during the third quarter and is also expected to miss this week.
The injuries helped pave the way for Buffalo to rack up 36 points on a Texans defense that didn’t allow that many points in a single game last year. They actually held this Bills team to just 19 points in a 23-19 home win last season.
Having so many injuries at linebacker makes the Bengals’ newfound commitment to play-action passing even more pivotal to having success this week. Guys like career reserve Jake Hanson and rookies Wade Woodaz (fourth-rounder out of Clemson) and Aidan Fisher (seventh-rounder out of Indiana) will potentially get significant snaps for Houston this week. Hansen actually missed time with a leg injury in the preseason, while Woodaz missed time due to thumb surgery, so they may not even be 100% this week.
This could pave the way for a big day from running backs Chase Brown and Samaje Perine, who combined for 29 total touches vs. Tampa Bay. That, in turn, could open up more big plays down the field if the Bengals can keep the Texans on their heels with more play-action.
Saying this, the Bengals will have their work cut out for them against a defense that still has plenty of firepower, namely All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson, who helped the Texans rack up 13 total pressures and three sacks vs. the Bills.
And while the offensive line performed well at home in Week 1, they’ll have to contend with a stronger Texans pass rush this week while also playing on the road for the first time this season against a team desperate to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start.
The potential for a 2-0 start is there for the Bengals, despite the fact that they’re currently three-point road underdogs.
