The Bengals enter their AFC North matchup with Baltimore carrying one of the cleanest injury reports they’ve had in a while, and that alone is worth noting. Before facing the Ravens, Cincinnati didn’t list a single player on the final injury report.
The bigger pregame headline was always Lamar Jackson’s status. But buried under that was a quieter development that could matter just as much for how the Bengals line up on defense: Kyle Dugger is no longer on the injured list.
Dugger had been dealing with a quad injury and had been limited to just three games this season. He was brought in as an important depth piece in free agency, and now his return raises a real question about how Cincinnati wants to deploy its safeties.
Bryan Cook is healthy again, too, but Jordan Battle has had some very obvious struggles this season. That opens the door for Dugger to potentially see a larger share of snaps than expected.
So far, Dugger has played only 41 snaps across three games. Still, he gives the Bengals a veteran option who knows AFC North football from his time in Pittsburgh.
There’s also a separate offensive wrinkle to watch. From the way things have looked, the Bengals don’t appear to be against giving Samaje Perine more of a role if Chase Brown continues to struggle.
At 3-2 coming out of the bye, Cincinnati heads straight into an AFC North slugfest with Derrick Henry at running back. In a game like this, one bad angle from a safety or one missed tackle can quickly turn into a back-breaking explosive play.
That’s why Dugger’s return feels like more than a footnote. It could be one of the more interesting personnel decisions the Bengals make on Sunday.
In Other News...
Ja'Marr Chase Could Force A Ravens Decision They Didn't Want
JaMarr Chase has already given Baltimore plenty of reasons to think twice about how it wants to defend him. Against the Ravens secondary, the Bengals wideout has piled up 61 catches for 1,036 yards and seven touchdowns in his career, production that puts real pressure on a defense trying to limit explosive plays while still accounting for Cincinnatis passing game.
Marlon Humphrey has made clear he knows how difficult that assignment can be, and the Ravens may need to look elsewhere if they want a different look on Chase. With Joe Burrow stressing how hard it is to win contested throws against Baltimore, the matchup could force the Ravens into a decision they would rather not have to make, one that might send coverage toward Nate Wiggins or Chidobe Awuzie instead. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Get A Huge Ravens Twist At The Worst Possible Time
A new wrinkle landed in the Bengals AFC North race this week, and it comes at a time when every divisional game feels loaded. Cincinnati is getting ready for its upcoming meeting with Baltimore with an eye on climbing the standings, and the Ravens will be forced to adjust their offensive plan after a late change at quarterback.
Baltimore announced it will be without Lamar Jackson because of an ankle injury, leaving Tyler Huntley to step in under center. For the Bengals, the matchup now shifts in a hurry, with the focus turning to how they handle a Ravens team that looks different than the one they expected to see when the schedule first circled this game. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Burrow Has A Real Opening In Bengals-Ravens Showdown
ESPNs Mina Kimes spent part of her Bengals-Ravens preview zeroing in on the kind of matchup details that can swing a divisional game, and the picture she painted gave Cincinnati reason for optimism. Baltimore receiver Zay Flowers has been productive working against linebackers, while the Bengals have had some trouble in that area defensively, which puts extra pressure on how they line up and react on Sunday.
Kimes also broke down the Ravens cornerback pair of Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins, while pointing to Joe Burrows history of success against Jesse Minters defensive ideas. It all adds up to a setting where Cincinnatis passing game could have some openings, especially if Baltimore does not make the right adjustments early. [Read more 🡒]