The Bengals added a little extra depth on Saturday as they prepared for Sunday’s AFC playoff-race matchup with Jacksonville.
Cincinnati elevated cornerback Bralyn Lux and safety Russ Yeast from the practice squad to the active roster for the game, according to the team site. Both moves are standard elevations, which means the two players will automatically revert to the practice squad on Monday.
Those promotions point to the secondary, where the Bengals have dealt with injury issues over the past few days. The team is navigating its first major injury wave of the season, though its top stars remain available and are looking to answer after last week’s self-inflicted loss to Pittsburgh.
Joe Burrow also addressed the storyline hanging over this one: his ability to deliver in the biggest moments. That will be part of the test again Sunday against Trevor Lawrence, and Cincinnati is the only AFC team Lawrence has never beaten.
“I feel like I'm pretty good in those moments. I'm really confident in myself in those moments, and typically, we're going to try to get it done,” Burrow said.
“There's no place I'd rather be. I want it in my hands when you put the game on the line.
I trust myself in those spots. I trust our guys in those spots.
We feel confident that we're going to get it done.”
Burrow also pointed to the challenge Jacksonville’s defense presents. The Bengals have had success against the Jaguars in recent years, but this version of Jacksonville may be its strongest overall group yet.
“Well, teams haven't scored many points against them,” Burrow noted. “Through these first couple of games, two of the teams got down a lot early, and that changes how the game is played.
That changes a lot of things about it. We have got to score points, and we got to score points early.
We know what kind of offense they have, and we got to be good in the red zone, like you said, and we got to be good on third down.
“We got to be really good situationally. It's just a kind of example ...
Usually teams against us like to mix it up. Sometimes they'll double.
Sometimes they'll blitz and play zone. Sometimes they'll blitz and play man.
Sometimes they'll play man and double one of the guys. That's typically how teams like to play us.
They like to mix it up, and so we've got to be ready for all those different things.”
Kickoff is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Bengals Loss Exposed A Bigger Problem Than Just One Bad Night
The Bengals Week 4 loss to Jacksonville was more than a frustrating 22-17 finish, because it also forced a hard look at how much of the roster held up when the game tightened. Cincinnati still got encouraging work from Dohnte Meyers and Tee Higgins, but the night turned choppy quickly after JaMarr Chase left for a concussion evaluation, and the offense never really settled into a rhythm from there.
What made the result sting was how many layers of the operation looked off at once. Jordan Battle and Dylan Fairchild drew criticism for their play, Zac Taylors offensive adjustments did not seem to solve the Jaguars pressure points, and Joe Burrows decision-making under pressure came under the microscope again, leaving the Bengals with a familiar but troubling question about whether this was just a bad night or something deeper. [Read more 🡒]
Tee Higgins Injury Leaves Bengals Facing One Big Offensive Concern
Tee Higgins night against the Jaguars ended with a late adductor injury, and it left the Bengals with one of the more immediate questions they can face this early in the week. Higgins tried to come back after leaving the game, but he was unable to continue, and Cincinnati still has not offered any recovery timeline as the team awaits further evaluation.
For a passing game that leans heavily on Higgins as one of its top targets, the timing matters as much as the injury itself. The Bengals now have to sort through what comes next without knowing how long they may be without him, and that uncertainty adds another layer to an offense already trying to keep its footing. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Face A Ja'Marr Chase Scare They Can't Afford
JaMarr Chases afternoon against Jacksonville took an unwelcome turn when a facemask hit led to a head injury and a concussion evaluation, forcing the Bengals star receiver out of the game for a stretch. For a Cincinnati offense that leans heavily on Chase to set the tone, any pause in his availability immediately changes the feel of the sideline and the play-calling.
Zac Taylor also pointed to the broader reality the Bengals are dealing with, noting the strain of injuries across the receiver room with Chase among the players affected. Even when Chase is only listed as questionable to return, the ripple effect is clear for a team that cannot afford to lose more firepower while trying to stay on schedule offensively. [Read more 🡒]